He did not make it easy for himself. Ronald Rugumayo is not a golfer who makes things easy. He tends to complicate them. Which is exactly what makes it fun for the gallery.
Last Saturday, July 19, he nearly conspired to throw himself into a playoff with Marvin Max Kibirige. But in the end, he held on.
In winning his overdue first victory in the Pearl of Africa Golf series at Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club, the South Africa-based golfer reminded the country that he will be in the reckoning for the overall victory when the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open tees off on September 10 at the par-71 golf course.
Rugumayo had to hold off a spirited fight from Kibirige in a throwback to the inaugural Pearl of Africa (POA) Golf series tournament at Uganda Golf Club where the Namulonge-born golfer outlasted his more celebrated opponent in a playoff at hole 12 at Kitante.
Speaking to The Observer, Rugumayo bemoaned his management of the par 5s over the four days. “You can’t believe it but I played the par 5s +16,” he explained.
“It is important to play the par 5s very well on any course but at Lugazi, I struggled with them. It is something I will have to rectify in time for the Open.”
On the 16th hole, Rugumayo holed a triple-bogey in the opening round of Wednesday and on Saturday, he suffered a double-bogey on the 7th hole while Kibirige got a birdie.
“It was a three-stroke swing that left me aghast not because of the score but how it came about; I didn’t need to be aggressive on the second shot given where my tee shot was.”
Rugumayo, however, is the master of game-management and from then on, he recomposed himself to outsmart his group that also included David Kamulindwa and Rodell Taddeo Gaita. However, he acknowledged that he must putt better, come the Uganda Open.
“I also didn’t putt well and yet to play well, you must be good on the greens. One thing that is clear is that it was important for me to play POA to fine-tune myself for the Uganda Open.
“This is a course that demands one to be in top physical shape because of the hills and valleys that you must climb and descend,” Rugumayo added.
He pocketed Shs 3.8m for winning the event while Joseph Kasozi, who triumphed in the amateur category, took home Shs 1.7m. The inaugural season of the Pearl of Africa series will be remembered for the multiple winners who emerged across the three courses in the professionals and amatuers.
At UGC, the pros event was taken by Kibirige while John Musiimenta stood tallest in the amateurs. That tournament was in February. In April, Herman Deco Mutebi prevailed in the pros with Michael Tumusiime claiming the honours in the amateurs.
With Rugumayo and Kasozi emerging top at Lugazi Hills Golf & Country Club, it does mean that next season’s competition promises to be more intense with organisers sent to introduce an order of merit for both the amateurs and categories.
Likewise, Dr Edward Nyatia, the POA chairman, confirmed that 2026 will see another course – probably Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa – added onto the series. The Pearl of Africa Series are supported by MTN-Uganda, NBS Sport, UNOC, UTB, Aquafina, IOTEQ, Mighty Rides, Uganda Golf Union and Vivo Energy, among others.