Unlike recent editions, the 21st Johnnie Walker Uganda Professionals Golf Open is witnessing some top drawer competition with about 15 men still carrying hopes of lifting this title this weekend.
For a third day running, a new name has climbed to the top of the leaderboard in the pursuit of the biggest share of the Shs150m purse at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) in Kitante.
Action heads into the final round of play on Saturday with Nigerian Godwin Okoko as the man to watch after he epitomized his ascendency with a stellar Day Three round of five-under 67 on Friday.
Chasing five shots at halfway stage on Thursday, the 21-year-old oozed finesse on the tricky Kitante course to assume a two-shot lead and he will be the hunted when the gallery peaks in numbers.
‘Actually when I saw the gap, I told myself it is not yet over. If it’s five holes and two holes to play, it’s still possible. So I said to myself: ‘Okay go onto the course and give yourself a chance, which I did,’ Okoko said after his round on Friday.
Like many have done all week, Okoko charged at the par-5 Holes, birding No.1, No.3, No.5 and No.13 while his eagle on No.8 brought desired colour to his card.
‘I started with five-under par on the front nine. Then I said, ‘Oh okay, just keep your cool and see.’ Then I made a par on No.12 which is one of the difficult holes. Then I said to myself: ‘Now the door is open. Try to go hard and see’,’ he reacted.
He seemed to be headed for a four-shot advantage over the rest of the field only to double-bogey the par-4 Hole No.18. ‘Thank God it is okay and I will see how I can keep the game going’ Okoko added with much trust in his driver.
Since inception in 2006, there is no Nigerian who has ever won the Uganda Professionals Open yet Okoko is pushing to alter that status quo.
He ironically dislodged joint-leaders consisting of Nigerian Sunday Olapade and Ugandan Ronald Rugumayo. Okoko however has a big task, to hold off an expectant field which has the top 15 players separated by just five shots.
Put simply, it is not over. Okoko will tee-off in the main pressure with the company of Kenyan Samuel Njoroge and Malawian Paul Chidale, who are tied on -3 overall.
The second pressure group has record six-time winner Kenyan Dismas Indiza, Phillip Kasozi and Rugumayo all as well tied on -3. Rugumayo capitulated on Day Three with six bogeys in a round of two-over 74.
2024 winner Zambian Dayne Moore, Kenyan Greg Snow and Tanzanian Nuru Mollel make up the third pressure group, all tied at -2 while Cameroonian Fon Pristhy, Ugandans David Kamulindwa and Dennis Anguyo form the fourth pressure group.
The fifth pressure group has pre-tournament local favourite Grace Kasango who shot a recovery round of four-under 68 with seven birdies and three bogeys on Friday, two-time champion Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi and Olapade tied at level-par.
The gallery will be split for the greater part of Saturday afternoon on either ends of Acacia Avenue.
21ST JW UGANDA PROFESSIONALS GOLF OPEN
DAY THREE LEADERBOARD
1 Godwin Okoko (NGR) 76 68 67 211 -5
T2 Paul Chidale (MAW) 72 72 69 213 -3
T2 Samuel Njoroge (KEN) 72 71 70 213 -3
T2 Dismas Indiza (KEN) 72 69 72 213 -3
T2 Phillip Kasozi (UGA) 71 69 73 213 -3
T2 Ronald Rugumayo (UGA) 69 70 74 213 -3
T7 Dayne Moore (ZIM) 76 70 68 214 -2
T7 Greg Snow (KEN) 75 71 68 214 -2
T7 Nuru Mollel (TAZ) 71 71 72 214 -2
T10 Fon Pristhy (CMR) 70 76 69 215 -1
T10 David Kamulindwa (UGA) 74 71 70 215 -1
T10 Dennis Anguyo (UGA) 72 72 71 215 -1