After hitting an eye-catching hole-in-one shot during the second day of action at the ongoing 19th Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Open in Entebbe – Uganda, Erick Ooko Obura tagged the feat as a “lucky opportunity”.
“I must say It was my lucky day. The pin was in a difficult position but I managed to sink it in. I am humbled,” Ooko who played 1-over 72 on the day stated.
The Kenya Golf Park-based professional struck an Ace on the par-three-hole no.2 on Thursday, 5th September 2024.
Erick Ooko Obura hit a hole-in-one shot during round two of the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Pro Golf Open
“I am happy for the hole-in-one and it is always exciting for any golfer to have one,” he stated after a perfect round when he scored 1-over 72 on the day.
After a bogie on the opening par-5 hole 1, Ooko’s moment to shine came on the par-3 hole 2 with a 9-iron and a Titleist Pro V1x ball.
This was his fifth ace in his golfing career and the first in a major championship.
“It is my first ace in a major championship but overall, this is my sixth. I also hit an Albatross at Golf Park with a 60 gross in 2019,” he added.
Ooko ranks among Kenya’s most consistent professional players in the last six years.
He is among the foreign players to have made the treasured cut for the total prize money kitty of Shs 150,000,000.
On day one, he played 5-over 76 before improving to 1-over-72 during day two.
Ooko tees off day three at 11:00 am with two Ugandans Bulhan Matovu and Vincent Byamukama.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s pro-golfer Dayne Moore maintained his lead at the summit of the overall leaderboard with 2-over 73 to counter his opening day round of 7-under 64 during round one.
“It is a tale of two halves. Yesterday (day one) I played really well. On day two, I did not. But, I not complaining. I will stick to what I know. I play my own game. I do not look at the leaderboard,” the Ndola club-based pro, a member of the Sunshine Tour remarked after the gruelling round.
Despite the 2-over score, Moore extended his leadership at the summit of the standings to 5 strokes.
Dayne Moore drives off from the 18th Tee-box during the second round of the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Open in Entebbe
Jastas Madoya in action during round one of the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Golf Open in Entebbe | Credit: Don Mugabi
Second-placed Jastas Madoya is course level (142) in 36 holes after two rounds. Madoya played 5-over 76 following a 5-under on day on the.
Moore, Madoya will be joined by Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera in the main pressure group on Friday, 6th September 2024; teeing off at 12:30 PM.
The second pressure group has another Rwandese professional, Erneste Ndayisenga, Promise Sombreiro (Zimbabwe) and Uganda’s Abraham Ainamani.
Uganda’s duo of Ronald Rugumayo and Phillip Kasozi are joined by Mike Kisia in the third pressure group.
Ronald Rugumayo in action on day two of the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Golf Open
Out of the over forty home-based professionals, 11 made it and 2 others are amateur players.
The successful ones who will play round three and four were Abraham Ainamani, Ronald Rugumayo, Phillip Kasozi, Deo Akope, Adolf Muhumuza, Marvin Kibirige, Opio Onito, Rodell Gaita, David Kamulindwa, Bulhan Matovu and Vincent Byamukama.
Adel Balala (Kenya), the newly crowned Uganda Amateur Open champion Joseph Reagan Akena and Titus Okwong are the amateurs who made the cut.
Friday, 6th September 2024 will be the third day of action as the professionals make it 54 holes.
The total kitty is Shs 150,000,000 (at least US $40,366).
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