Uganda's junior golfers take another swing at the Toyota World Cup

The Uganda Junior Golf team will be vying for the chance to qualify for the Toyota World Cup for the second time | Photo Credit: Courtesy

GOLF Uganda's junior golfers take another swing at the Toyota World Cup

Shafic Kiyaga 07:57 - 26.03.2023

The Uganda junior golf team last played at the Toyota World Cup in 2019, when coach Stephen Kasaija an impressive debut appearance at the global stage in Nagoya, Japan back in 2019.

Uganda's junior golfers are set to make their mark again as they prepare to compete in the All Africa Junior Golf Team Championships at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa next month.

The team, comprising of some of the country's top young golfers, will also be vying for the chance to qualify for the Toyota World Cup for the second time.

The junior golf team last played at the Toyota World Cup in 2019, when coach Stephen Kasaija an impressive debut appearance at the global stage in Nagoya, Japan back in 2019.

Since then, no other national junior team has managed to match their success, largely due to their inability to perform well in the African championship - the qualifying event for the Toyota World Cup.

However, the Ugandans are hopeful that they can replicate their previous success, as they gear up to host a continental junior event for the first time in Kampala.

The event, set to take place from April 9th to 12th at Kigo, marks the first of several events on the Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) 2023 calendar.

The top two boys' teams and the winner in the girls' category will qualify for the Toyota World Junior Championship in Japan, which will take place in June 2023.

"We have been preparing really hard for this tournament," said Flavia Namakula, the team's coach and professional golfer.

"The boys have been training very well, and I am confident that they will put on a great performance. The girls' team is equally talented, and they have shown a lot of dedication and commitment."

The girls' team is comprised of Winnie Musuya, Frista Birabwa, Vivian Achen, Florence Asio, Mercy Ssebagala, and Shadia Nalugya, who have all demonstrated their skills in previous tournaments.

The boys' team, which includes Reagan Akena, Pius Ochieng, Juma Abiti, Collins Ociti, and Samuel Bazaale, have been working tirelessly in the run-up to the event.

"We're looking forward to representing our country and making Uganda proud," said Akena.

"It's a great opportunity for us to showcase our talent and potentially earn a spot in the Toyota World Cup," he added.

The teams will be trimmed to four players each for the tournament which is played over four rounds

The junior championship will also feature affiliate national amateur championships from Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, and Egypt.

These events will be open for participation by all amateur golfers in Africa and will contribute towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Johnson Omolo, president of the Africa Golf Confederation president further confirmed that after the junior championship in Egypt, teams will then head to Ethiopia for the Africa Region 4 Championship which is expected to attract seven countries.

Eswatini will host the Region 5 Golf Championship in quarter two and Cote d'Ivoire will host the Regions 2 and 3 Championships in quarter three.

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