Otile, Gaita hold one-shot lead at Entebbe Pro Tee

When did Ronald Otile last lead the conversation of a major competition? That must have been the question rolling in the minds of many when his name popped up at the top of the leaderboard of the MTN Pro Tee Series at Entebbe Club on Tuesday. Otile is the joint-leader with Rodell Gaita after each fired an opening round of four-under 67 to assume a one-stroke advantage over the rest of the field in the quest for the biggest cut of the Shs20m kitty by MTN. Otile turned professional in 2021 from an illustrious amateur career when he lifted the Uganda Amateur Open title on three occasions in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Five years in the paid ranks, he hasn't raked in much. At Entebbe Club, Otile seemed to have done a surgery on his craft. 'It was like a game plan,' Otile described his round. 'Most times, I have been having bad starts but this time round, I sat down and did my notes,' he explained during a chat with Under Par by Timothy Okiror. In his round, Otile made four birdies in the closing seven holes; the par-3 Hole No.12, par-4 Hole No.13, the par-5 Holes No.15 and No.18. At the new-look par-4 Hole No.14 which has gapping bunkers around the narrow green, Otile was trapped for a bogey but his birdie earlier on the par-5 Hole No.5 green canceled that one out. Otile is intent on going into Day Two action where he will be in a pressure group comprising Gaita and the legendary Deo Akope, who is tied third at three-under 68. 'It's all about patience and consistency. I will do the same game plan, because it's a cut day (Wednesday),' Otile noted. 'I have to first make sure that I first make the cut,' before signaling intent at Gaita. 'He's been one of the outstanding performers. I am ready to take him on this time round,' the 29-year-old added. Gaita on the other hand is keen on ending a year's wait for a pro tournament win. And he started off in Entebbe in high gear after shooting four birdies on par-5 Holes No.1, No.7, No.11 and the short No.12 while his eagle on the 15th green was cancelled out by a painful double-bogey on the par-3 Hole No.16. 'I am happy with my driving. The driving was good,' he told this paper. 'The putting came and went out but I am so grateful for it as well.' Gaita also rued the bogey on the par-4 Hole No.4. 'The course is playing a bit tough, a bit bumpy. The greens were in their own zone,' he explained. Indeed, the Entebbe has been dry for weeks but Gaita is focused on the prize. 'My strategy was to play level or under par. My target is to win. It's been a while, I haven't won all this year,' he added. Meanwhile, Akope who made four birdies in the last five holes, is tied with Abraham Ainamani and the pair holds a two-shot advantage over reigning Uganda Professionals Open champion Ronald Rugumayo. Rugumayo, who won the Pros Open at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) in Kitante on Saturday, shot 70 with three birdies and two bogeys to show. Then, Marvin Kibirige, Hussein Bagalana and Herman Mutaawe are tied in sixth place on level-par 71 while Grace Kasango is ninth at one-over 72 and three others Ibrahim Ssemakula, Samuel Kato and Davis Kato tied in 10th position at 73. T1 Ronald Otile 67 -4 T1 Rodell Gaita 67 -4 T3 Deo Akope 68 -3 T3 Abraham Ainamani 68 -3 5 Ronald Rugumayo 70 -1 T6 Marvin Kibirige 71 E T6 Hussein Bagalana 71 E T6 Herman Mutaawe 71 E 9 Grace Kasango 72 +1 T10 Ibrahim Ssemakula 73 +2 T10 Samuel Kato 73 +2 T10 Davis Kato 73 +2