By CHIMPREPORTS
The U.S. Golf Kids Uganda local tour reached a captivating conclusion at the stunning Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa course in Kigo on Sunday.
This picturesque golf course is nestled on the banks of Lake Victoria, offering breathtaking views of the lake and abundant bird life. It is a must-play for all golf enthusiasts and is esteemed among the best courses in the East African Region, thanks to its unique features, including the island green finishing hole.
Dubbed the NCBA Uganda Open, the Local Tour aimed to provide young golfers with the opportunity to participate in a multi-day championship event and qualify for U.S. Kids Golf Priority Status.
By achieving different levels of Priority Status, players become eligible for other U.S. Kids Golf Major Championships, including Regional, International, and World or World Teen Championships.
For many young participants in various age groups, the focus was on winning medals and trophies. However, for Aaron Ssozi and Abisha Miracle, the tournament served as a crucial stepping stone towards their golfing aspirations.
On the final day of the six-series season, Kabojja International Scholar, Aaron Ssozi secured the third position in the under-12 age category with a Gross Score of 119.
Despite not meeting his expectations, Ssozi appreciated the social networking aspect of the event and emphasized the significance of the tour in realizing his golfing ambitions.
“I found it beneficial to socialize with other young golfers, witness the progress of my talent in the sport, and have fun,” Ssozi (12) shared with ChimpReports.
He added, “While my overall performance wasn’t the best compared to my preparations, there’s room for improvement. My target was to achieve a score below 86, but I faced challenges with the rain, sometimes taking me four hours to complete nine holes, leaving me too tired, especially when some players were slow.”
“The competition was more about challenging the course, and I didn’t focus on opponents, as golf is an individual sport.”
Inspired by his parents (Aminah Ajio and Fred Mukasa Ssozi), the promising prospect acknowledged his coaches (Hussein and Baker) for their exceptional training sessions and set achievable goals for the future.
“I aim to play under-par golf, score birdies, eagles, and achieve a Hole in One,” stated Ssozi.
He shared similar aspirations with his peer, Miracle Abisha, who scored 99 after 18 holes.
Despite encountering challenges like rain affecting his playing strategy and several balls going into barriers, Abisha successfully concluded the tour.
“My target was to go below 90, but due to my balls going into barriers, I ended up losing marks,” noted Abisha, a Grade 5 student from Aswitwe International School.
“The competition was fair, considering my prior tournaments at the Uganda Golf Club in Kitante. I look forward to continued training and improvement, as practice makes perfect. I hope to score below 90 to win future tournaments.”
US Kids Golf is a global franchise present in 150 countries with over 2000 participants. Each age category has a distinct setup, with golfers playing based on gross score, not handicap.
“The kids golf tour featured twelve age groups, and we encourage them to persist because they know where they started from,” added Theodor Van Rooyen, the director of golf at Lake Victoria Serena Kigo.
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