Uganda lady professional, Flavia Namakula, got her first professional victory after she won the 22^nd Open De Cote d’voireTrophee Felix HouphouetBiogny Championship (Ivory Coast Open) at par-72 President Golf Club in Yamoussoukro in Ivory Coast. The five-time Uganda Amateur Ladies Open champion held onto her lead to win the championship with an aggregate score of 299 after four days.

Namakula shot rounds of 78, 73, 72 and 76, bagged 8 birdies overall over the 72 holes to finish 9 strokes ahead of Senegal’s Oumou Kaisou. Ivory Coast’s Viviane Koua and Chantal Behib finished third and fourth respectively in the event that attracted eight lady professionals.

“The course was tough. You needed to know where to place the ball and it was very hot. But I was calm and trusted myself. I trusted every shot I played and kept on taking water. It was very important otherwise I would not have made it in the hot temperature,” said Namakula.

Namakula shot rounds of 78, 73, 72 and 76, bagged 8 birdies overall over the 72 holes to finish 9 strokes ahead of Senegal’s Oumou Kaisou.

“Professional golf is not easy at all when you have to do everything yourself. Playing and looking for moneyis the most difficult part for me. But for this one, members of Uganda Golf Club and Uganda Golf Union paid for me. I’m grateful to them,” she added.
Namakula turned pro in 2016 having won five Uganda Ladies Open titles in seven years. However, financial challenges affected her regular competition in Sunshine Tour in South Africa. Worsestill, lack of professional events at her home country and in the region forced her to take a break and focus on other life commitments and her job in the army (UPDF).

Another Ugandan, Abbey Bagalana, who played in the men’s event for the second time having finished 16^th last year, missed the cut by four strokes in the event that attracted 81 entries.

Ghana’s Emos Korblah successfully defended title after hitting 269 gross, edging out Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi by a stroke.Ivory Coast’s Arnaud Kacou Tanguy (276), Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera (277) and Nigeria’s Sunday Olapade (279) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Women’s Leaderboard

Pos.   Name                    Ctry            R1     R2     R3     R4     Total
1.       Flavia Namakula             UGA            78      73      72      76      299
2.       OumouDieye         SEN            79      74      75      80      308
3.       Viviane Kouame     CIV             78      77      77      79      311
4.       Chantal Behibro     CIV             81      78      78      76      313
5.       ElemaEko’o           CMR           82      83      77      85      327