Hakizimana to become first Rwandan in Asian golf tour

For the very first time, a Rwandan golfer, Jean Baptiste Hakizimana, is set to compete in the 2013 Asian golf tour that is scheduled to run for three months starting in September. The tour will be made up of 12 different tournaments taking place in different countries, including Saudi Arabia and Dubai. MENA golf tour being one of the tournaments will be played in Dubai. It will be the second time golfers from part of the East African region participate in the Asian tour but the first for Rwanda to be represented in this international tournament, which is aimed at producing a future generation of champions. Rwanda’s top professional golfer, Hakizimana, who is ranked third in the East African region, will represent the region alongside Ugandan top player Deo Akope and Grey Snow from Kenya. While confirming his impending historic participation in an international tour, Hakizimana told Sunday Sport, “First of all it is a pleasure for me to become the first Rwandan golfer to participate in this Asian tour. “That aside, this is a big step in my career and at the same time, a huge task; it means I have to train harder than I have ever trained in order to put myself in a good position to compete against some of the best golfers from different parts of the world,” the 27-year-old acknowledged. He added, “I have already started to train intensively. Next month I am heading to South Africa to further my preparations with elite golfers over there and also acquire some new skills from them.” Recently, Hakizimana participated in the Burundi Open and finished fourth as well as in the Kabale Open (Uganda) where he came second. The golfer’s trip for the Asian tour will be made possible by Tele10 and Falcon Golf Country Club in Muhazi, Kayonza District.