Uganda’s boys’ golf team has secured their spot in the 2023 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup by finishing second at the All Africa Junior Team Championship held at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Course in Kigo.
In an intense golf tournament that took place over four rounds, South Africa emerged as the champions with a team score of 850.
The competition, which featured players from upto fourteen African countries, saw some excellent performances from the players.
South Africa’s team, consisting of Amilkar Bhana, Keagan Crosbie, Jack Buchanan, and Jaden Deltel, displayed consistency throughout the tournament, with all players scoring in the 70s in at least three rounds.
Bhana, in particular, stood out with a strong performance in the first round, scoring a 78, followed by three rounds in the 70s.
The Uganda boys team finished in second place, just 94 shots behind South Africa. Skipper Reagan Joseph Akena led the way for Uganda with a fantastic final round score of 73, while Juma Abiti and Abdul Kakeeto also contributed with some solid performances.
Zambia took the third spot on the podium with a team score of 944. Leornard Chibwe and Fabian Musonda were the standouts for Zambia, both scoring in the 70s in at least two rounds.
Zimbabwe finished fourth, while Namibia and Kenya were placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
South Africa also won the girls’ category in the AAJTC championship that lasted for four days from Monday, and doubled as the African Qualifier for the world event.
With a team score of 691, the Ugandan girls team finished in fourth place. However, only the winning girls’ team was granted a slot for the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, which was secured by South Africa in this instance.
Zimbabwe secured the second position in the girls’ category with a team score of 634, while Kenya finished third with a score of 662, earning them a place on the podium.
The Toyota Junior Golf World Cup is a yearly amateur team golf championship for individuals under the age of 18, organized in Japan, with Toyota Motor Corporation serving as the title sponsor. The event was first held in 1992 for boys and in 2014 for girls.