Before last week’s Zambia Ladies Golf Open in Lusaka, Ugandan female golfer Peace Kabasweka had never competed in the country.
Arriving just days before the tournament, Kabasweka didn’t have much time to get used to the weather in Zambia. The course had tricky greens and hazards. Despite the cold weather, different from Uganda’s warm climate, she still performed well.
Kabasweka, a national team player, finished as the runner-up in the 54-hole World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event held at the par 73 Lusaka Golf Club course with a gross score of 255. Madina Iddi from Tanzania won the tournament, securing her first victory in this annual event.
Kabasweka, the current Uganda Ladies Open champion, carded 85, 84, and 86 respectively at the par-73 course. She managed birdies on par-5 holes 10 and 14.
“I found the course challenging because of the many hazards. To make it worse, the greens weren’t holding, and the cold weather made it hard for me to swing the way I like,” Kabasweka noted, adding that she’s proud of the podium finish.
Melon Kyomugisha, the other Ugandan contender in the competition, secured the eighth position with a gross score of 268. Both players received support from the Uganda Golf Union to compete in the tournament.
Tanzania’s Madina Iddi clinched the title with a total score of 234 (78, 80, 76), adding another international accolade to her career outside Tanzania. Competing against a field of over 100 golfers from countries such as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, and Zambia, Madina finished 21 shots ahead of the runner-up (Kabasweka) after the final round.
Annie Nsama (255) and Lorna Mwenda (256) were the best Zambians in the competition, finishing third and fourth respectively.
