Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi battled sweltering temperatures and fatigue to take a three-shot lead after Wednesday’s opening round of the 2022 Tusker Malt Uganda Open at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa course, in Kampala.
The Royal Harare Golf Club member admitted to having struggled with exhaustion and dehydration in the latter stages of his round on his way to firing a three-under-par 69.
Chinhoi had five birdies, all coming on the front nine on holes number two, three, five and six and an eye-catching eagle on hole 13.
The rising Zimbabwean star also had bogies on the opening hole as well as holes number 11, 15 and 16.
“I felt tired for the last 3 holes and I need to hydrate a lot because of the heat. I hope to better my scores come round two” he told the Ugandan publication Kawowo Sports.
“The greens and fairways in Lubumbashi are quite different from the ones here; on top of the weather, but, I will adjust swiftly.”
Chinhoi has been in brilliant form recently winning the Kinshasa Open and the Lubumbashi Open in the Democratic Republic of Congo before returning home to secure a runner-up finish in the LiuGong Pro-Am at Chapman Golf Club last week.
He is in familiar territory in the East African nation, where he also won the 2020 edition of the Uganda Pro Open.
Chinhoi will start Thursday’s second round three strokes ahead of the Kenyan duo of Dismas Indiza and Samuel Chege who both carded rounds of level par 72 apiece.
Another Zimbabwean Nyasha Muyambo of Chapman Golf Club is tied for fourth on one-over-par-73 as Ngugi Njuguna (Kenya), Robinson Owiti (Kenya), Grace Kasango (Uganda), Ronald Rugumayo (Uganda), Kamalu Bako (Nigeria) and Visitor Mapwanya (Zimbabwe).
Kenyan Greg Snow is 11th as the 12th position has 9 ties with Okello Jacob (Kenya), Willy Deus Kitata (Uganda), Ignatius Mketekete (Zimbabwe), Phillip Kasozi (Uganda), Hesbon Kutwa Owiti (Kenya), Kibugu Mutahi (Kenya), Hussein Bagalana (Uganda), Ng’andu Dezzie (Zambia) and Simon Ngige Mburu (Kenya).