The Monitor (Kampala)
Innocent Ndawula
3 July 2009
Kampala — Uganda's top amateur lady golfer Flavia Namakula has said that she will not be intimidated by the big names and alien conditions that await her as she begins the defence of the Kenya Amateur Ladies Open Strokeplay title at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club tomorrow.
Namakula won the title last year when she edged home girl Mary Karano by just a single stroke and she is well aware that all rivals will be targeting her downfall.
"It is obvious they will be aiming to dethrone me but I'm up to the task. I cannot blame them for their intentions because everybody wants to win and its understandable," said the 23-year old UPDF soldier.
When asked about challenges of playing on the course for first time, Namakula reasoned that when she won the Kenya Open last year it was her first time to play on the Muthaiga greens.
"Golf is a game of endurance. When I won last year, I just persisted and made sure that I return good aggregates. It will be same this time round. My practice rounds at Kitante were good as I managed to score a 76, 72 and 75 in my last three rounds. All I have to do is practice well and adapt to the course tomorrow (today)," Namakula told Daily Monitor before departure.
The youthful golfer predicted her fellow Ugandan teammates would do well and singled out as Karano, Zambia's Melissa Nawa and Tanzania's 17-year-old Hawa Wanyechi as the only threats that stand between her and another title.
"We have a strong team capable of delivering this time round. Although Hawa, Karano and Melissa are very good golfers and have an added advantage of knowing the course better than us, if we chip, putt and play our approach shots well then we have a big chance of the title returning home," she concluded.
All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) Trustee for East and Central Monica Ntege, a handicap six golfer, handicap 7 Eva Okatch, Entebbe Golf Club raw-talent Irene Nakalembe together with handicap 7 Jasper Kamukama are some of other Ugandans to compete in the two-day event.
The others are Jenina Nasimolo Petra Nalwoga, Alice Owori, Peace Muyege and Betty Owaraga.
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