Three TZ golfers to compete in Uganda Ladies Open

DAR ES SALAAM: THREE national ladies golf team members, Madina Iddi, Neema Olomi and Vicky Elias are among eight Tanzanian golfers who confirmed their participation at this year’s Uganda Ladies Open Tournament.

The annual tournament that brings together top East African golfers is set to tee off at the Uganda Golf Club, in Kampala, Uganda from 12-14 October this year.

Hawa Wanyeche – the Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU) Competition Secretary, told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday that they have received the eight confirmations so far with six men who will compete in the subsidiary category.

She named other confirmed players as Loveness Frank from Kili Golf Club of Arusha, Chiku Elias of Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC), Rachel Mushi from Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC), Anita Siwale (Morogoro Gymkhana Club) and the only man, DGC’s Dilawar Patadia.

AGC’s Iddi has been in good form winning Kenya Ladies Open, Ghana Ladies Open, and Dar es Salaam Golf Open this year.

But the star who missed last year’s edition is heading to Uganda searching for her first title after several attempts.

“It is one of those titles that I have tried for years without success, I wonder why it always seems difficult to conquer Uganda Ladies Open, I set my sight on the tournament to turn things around this time around,” she said.

Olomi also from Arusha Gymkhana Club will be looking for her second Uganda Ladies title.

She aggregated 229 (80,74,75) over three rounds to win her first major title, at the Lake Victoria Serena Resort & Spa, Uganda in 2018.

From Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) – Lugalo Golf Club of Dar es Salaam’s Elias who secured her first major title at the Tanzania Ladies Open Championship at Kili Golf Club in Arusha last month to receive his first national team call-up, will hope to continue her sparking form in Uganda.

Wanyeche will be the only national team member to miss the event due to other responsibilities as players will use it as trials to prepare for the coming East and Central African All Africa Challenge Trophy (EC-AACT) scheduled to tee off in Kigali, Rwanda from the 30th Oct to 4th Nov 2023.

Several foreign-based ladies have won the Uganda Ladies Open, including Tanzanian Olomi in 2018, Angel Eaton who recently became the first Tanzanian lady to turn prom won in 2012, 2013, and 2017, Zambian Melissa Nawa (2008), and Kenya’s Mary Karano in 2007 among others.