Social golf over the years has had trends and lately, the landscape among the weekend players involves clusters.
These, speak to their life goals and achievements, age groups and shared values for society. At Entebbe Club, the Katogo franchise has stood the test of time since 2008.
But their delight at the stage of the sport in Entebbe has been tested by the Kabalaza group among other subsets of players. Inevitably, Katogo this year accepted a challenge from the Kwacha / Hole Out / Well Out bloc.
Last weekend, Katogo hosted their opponents to a Match-play Challenge and they only edged to win 20-19 out of 39 matches played at the par-71 course.
‘Main purpose? Enjoyment. Kwacha/Hole Out decided earlier this year to challenge Katogo to a match play competition,’ said tournament director Paul Kaheru.
‘We accepted and they hosted us. At the end of that tournament, we decided to reciprocate. Hence this one that was held on Saturday. It was a return leg, now it is going to be annual,’ he said.
The event, sponsored by members and some friends of Katogo, specifically Ali Juuko, had the pairing of Kaheru and Peter Magona top the scores for Katogo.
Kaheru was supported in organization by Kwacha’s Emmanuel Wamimbi while Katogo captain Elly Mukasa and the vice-captain Andrew Kibaya were a part of the committee.
Kaheru and Magona defeated David Batanda and Sarah Nduhukire of Kwacha / Hole Out with a score of 5/4 (5-up with four holes to spare).
‘Sarah was off her game. She couldn’t putt to save her life. David was solid but Peter and I were on point,’ handicap 19 player Kaheru stated.
‘We complimented each other well. We knew when each of us should putt first to secure a tie and then the other attacks for the win,’ he added.
Kaheru and Magona first trailed their opponents after Batanda made a par on the par-3 Hole No.2 but Kaheru’s par on the descending par-4 Hole No.3 levelled proceedings.
Kaheru and Magona’s bogeys on the next par-4 fourth green had them lead 1-up and they never looked back.
Whereas Nduhukire and Batanda contained them through the next five holes, Magona and Kaheru got ultimate ascendency to close out the contest after the par-4 Hole No.14.
Kibaya and in-form Mukasa also beat Wamimbi and Israel Arinaitwe 3/2 on the green of the par-3 Hole No.16 but Katogo had casualties too.
Paul Nuwagaba and Richard Matsiko of Kwacha / Hole Out defeated Michael Monne and Arthur Gwaku 5/3 while Moses Mukiibi and Ernest Rukundo too powered 4/3 past the Katogo duo of Daniel Muwooya and Mathias Zungu.
KATOGO VS. KWACHA/HOLE OUT MATCHPLAY CHALLENGE
SELECTED RESULTS
Lony Akena and Nicholas Kebba bt. Collins Mwesigwa and M. Musinguzi 4/3
Bryan Walusimbi and Brian Nsubuga vs. Ignatius Twesigye and Andrew Oluka A/S
Andrew Baguma and Yunus Bbaale bt. Harry Hakiza and Rukia Nalwoga 4/3
Paul Nuwagaba and Richard Matsiko bt. Michael Monne and Arthur Gwaku 5/3
Andrew Kibaya and Elly Mukasa bt. Emma Wamimbi and Israel Arinaitwe 3/2
Marvin Kagoro and Oscar Semawere bt. Moses Matsiko and Martin Kivumbi 3/2
Peter Magona and Paul Kaheru bt. David Batanda and Sarah Nduhukire 5/4
Moses Mukiibi and Ernest Rukundo bt. Daniel Muwooya and Mathias Zungu 4/3
Haruna Nyanzi and Henry Luwemba bt. Richard Mugisha and Louis Tumukunde 5/4
Timothy Lwanga and Lawrence Walakira bt. Lloyd Busuulwa and Milton Edimu 2/1
TOTAL SCORES
Katogo: 20
Kwacha / Hole Out / Well Out: 19