The Fort Portal-bred player cracked the right codes to beat the 57-man field over two rounds and win the Malindi Open Championship with the best aggregate score of six-over-146 gross.

Michael Alunga may not be a familiar face to you, especially outside golf.But as his seniors like Joseph Cwinya-ai, Denis Asaba, Daniel Baguma and Ronald Otile continue to naturally pave the way, the light has started shining brighter on him.

He comes off as a shy lad but so versatile at golf. Atleast the field and gallery that graced the Malindi Golf & Country Club can attest to that.

The Fort Portal-bred player cracked the right codes to beat the 57-man field over two rounds and win the Malindi Open Championship with the best aggregate score of six-over 146 gross.

The win came after successive first runner-up finishes in more than five events on the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship circuit.

“I really needed to win because I have been struggling with second position every time,” said Alunga.

He had sniffed glory only to register second-place finishes at the Winston Churchill at Thika, Coronation & Bender in Nakuru, Golf Park Open in Nairobi, Tranzoia Open in Kitale and the Mt Kenya Open in Nyeri.

If I had a company sponsoring me, I would not be stressed.

I would be doing everything at a time. Sometimes, I can’t go on the course since I don’t have money – Michael Alunga.

At Malindi, he was tied with Sammy Mulama in second with a Day One score of 75 comprising four birdies, seven bogeys and a double-bogey on par-4 Hole No.15 while chasing leader Isaac Makokha. Alungaimproved his scores with a better round of one-over 71 on Day Two which included five birdies on Holes par-3 No.7, par-5 No.12, par-5 No.14, par-5 No.15 and par-4 No.17. The double-bogey on par-4 Hole No.6 and four bogeys on Holes par-4 No.1, par-3s No.2, No.13 and No.16 did not deter his surge to the top of the leaderboard.

The feat at the par-70 course was quite historic. Alunga becomes the first Ugandan amateur golfer to win in Kenya since 2006 when DeoAkope last won.

“One day,Alungaasked me when the last Ugandan amateur won in Kenya and I told him I last won in 2006. He remarked that that was very long and promised to win soon and he has done exactly that,” said Akope, UPGA captain.

By spending more time in Kenya, particularly at Golf Park in Nairobi, Alunga’s game has changed amid several challenges. Alunga revealed that 75 percent improvement ofhis mental strength and game management came from his continuous practice at Golf Park.

“It has been so hard staying over here but it’s just that if you need something you have to hustle and sacrifice for it,” said Alunga who started golf eleven years ago at Toro Golf Club.

The towering golfer lauds Francis Otim, Alexander Matsiko, Daniel Kanga and Dr James Eyul for the vital financial support.

“If I had a company sponsoring me, I would not be stressed. I would be doing everything at a time. Sometimes, I can’t go on the course since I don’t have money. As you know, Kenya is a bit tight – I have to look for people I can train to enable me get something for a day,” disclosed Alunga of his financial woes.

The Ugandan golfer targets to finish in top three in the Kenya Amateur rankings and if he gets a chanceto play in the Uganda Amateur Open, he will go for it. He still has more than 10 tournaments to play on the KAGC circuit before the year ends.