Kato Sebbaale’s consistency paid off at the par-72 course of the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa in Kigo for him to win the IandM Bank Serena63 Series’ first quarter leg at the weekend.
The consultant physician and laparoscopic surgeon produced 242 points to top the charts following weeks of action in Kigo.
‘Oh, I feel great. It was a great field, great people, great golfers and coming out as a winner, it is glorious,’ said Sebbaale after the prize giving ceremony.
The tournament, named after the lowest competitive score to ever shot at Kigo by Kenyan Dismas Indiza during the third round of the 2019 Uganda Professionals Golf Open, is designed in a format where players accumulate scores in several rounds.
The minimum rounds to have been played for the first quarter leg were six but Sebbaale surpassed that mark and he did not do anything spectacular though.
‘Nothing much, I come and enjoy and play good golf. We had to play a minimum of six rounds but I have played about 15,’ Sebbaale stated. His prizes included a earning himself a Callaway Quantum driver worth Shs4.3m.
‘You come play and enjoy. When you play well, well and good. When you play badly, there is no pressure. The beauty about this is that you are given a grace period. You play many rounds so it doesn’t give you pressure,’ added the gastroenterologist and medical entrepreneur.
Sebbaale beat defending champion Dave Plendelreith, who came second on 232 points. Meanwhile, Lake Victoria Serena captain Jimmy Mugerwa tied joint third with Gift Shoko on 227 points.
A record field of 136 players were registered for the tournament but 124 turned for the action on Saturday.
‘The highest last year was 100. It’s (tournament) open to all golfers and that has been a big boost to the numbers,’ remarked IandM Bank’s head of marketing and corporate communications Annette Nakiyaga.
‘Through partnerships like this, we are able to connect with our clients in meaningful ways that align with their lifestyles and interests,’ IandM Bank chief financial officer Timothy Musiime said of the bank’s value beyond traditional banking.
‘More importantly, golf in Uganda continues to grow steadily, with increasing participation across clubs, corporate tournaments, and junior programmes. The IandM Bank Serena 63 Golf Series is proud to be part of this growth,’ he added.
Kigo director of golf Theodore van Rooyen said the highest recorded individual number of rounds in the first quarter was 18 and the second edition will come on September 12 before the grand finale due November 14.
‘This is the third edition and from the last one, this actually tripled in size. So I think people are starting to see the value,’ Van Rooyen said.
The year’s champion will win annual golf membership or subscription rewards worth $2500 (Shs9.3m) at Kigo alongside Serena Hotels’ accommodation experiences across East Africa in Mombasa and Nairobi – Kenya, Kigali – Rwanda, and Zanzibar – Tanzania.
IandM BANK SERENA63 SERIES
1ST QUARTERLY EVENT RESULTS
1ST QUARTER WINNERS
Winner: Kato Sebbaale 242 points
1st Runner-Up: David Plenderleith 232 pts
2nd Runner-Up: Jimmy Mugerwa 227 pts
3rd Runner-Up: Gift Shoko 227 pts
4th Runner-Up: John Byabagambi 225 pts
SUBSIDIARY EVENT
Overall Winner: Alex Guma 44 pts
1st Runner-Up: Timothy Musiime 43 pts
2nd Runner-Up: Nobuyoshi Kida 40 pts (c/b)
3rd Runner-Up: Isaac Nsereko 40 pts (c/b)
4th Runner-Up: Eric Miller 40 pts (c/b)
NEAREST TO PIN
M: Jasi Rommel
L: Katy Kabenge
LONGEST DRIVE
M: Brian Omeda
L: Nerima Shaminah