The National Golf Association of the Philippines on Saturday stressed that the Philippine Open—the oldest national championship in Asia—will push through as scheduled from Nov. 12 to 15 despite the withdrawal of BingoPlus as the tournament’s main presenter.

The Philippine Sports Commission and the Asian Tour have stepped in as the tournament’s new chief backers, with NGAP president Al Panlilio assuring that the 72-hole championship will remain at least a $1 million (around P63 million) event to be hosted by the Masters of Manila Southwoods.

“We are very grateful to Chair Pato (Gregorio of the PSC), Mr. Cho (Minn Thant of the Asian Tour), and of course, to Manila Southwoods, that we will still be able to hold the event as scheduled,” said Panlilio, who recently came out of a crucial meeting with Asian Tour officials and secured the commitment of several other firms as sponsors.

“There are several other entities from different businesses which are very willing to make this happen,” Panlilio said. “We are just ironing out the details of everything before we make the announcement.”

The Masters has been undergoing preparations for the past two months, with the course being spruced up to championship shape to challenge the best golfers in the region.

Frenchman Julien Sale is the defending champion after breaking through as a professional last year while also becoming the first debutant to win the Philippine Open. He fired a final-round five-under-par 65 for a 269 total to edge Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura by one stroke.

Miguel Tabuena was also in the field and gave a gallant chase as the best Filipino finisher, ending the tournament just four shots behind Sale in front of a big crowd that followed him throughout the week.

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Deo Akope joined Rodell Gaita at the top of the second leg of the MTN Pro Tee leaderboard after Wednesday’s Round Two at Entebbe Golf Club.

The legendary pro moved up two places after playing 2-under 69 for an aggregate of 5-under 137. Gaita, who opened with a 4-under 67 on Tuesday, returned 1-under 70.

However, Round Two belonged to Irene Nakalembe, who fired a 4-under 67 to move nine places up the leaderboard.

“Today was one of those days where everything was working so well; I hit 18 greens in regulation,” Nakalembe said. “I can’t thank God enough because things like these don’t happen often.”

Nakalembe’s best career round as a pro was littered with six birdies, and just a couple of bogeys on holes 4 and 10.

Meanwhile, leg one winner Abraham Ainamani, who returned 70, is one shot off the lead with a total score of 4-under 138.

Uganda Pro Open winner Ronald Rugumayo is tied with Nakalembe for fourth.

Players who made the cut

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Fourteen Ugandan players, including one amateur, made the cut for the final two rounds of the 2026 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professionals Golf Open at the par-72 Uganda Golf Club, Kampala.

The professionals include Ronald Rugumayo, Phillip Kasozi, Samuel Kato, Rodell Gaita, Deo Akope, Dennis Anguyo, David Kamulindwa, Hussein Bagalana, Willy Deus Kitata, Davis Kato, Grace Kasango, Abbey Bagalana and Abraham Ainamani.

There is one amateur, John Musiimenta, who joins two other Zambians, Dominic Musonda and Gilbert Chalwe.

Round two action on Thursday, 3rd September 2026, witnessed mouth-watering golf from Nigeria’s professional Sunday Olapade, who shot 5-under-67 with two eagles on the first two holes (1 and 2), 3 birdies, 11 pars and two bogeys.

Another Nigerian, Godwin Okoko, returned 4-under-68 during a bogey-free round.

The second round was lit by two hole-in-one shots from Zambia’s Dayne Moore and Uganda’s Henry Lujja.

Moore shot a hole-in-one on the par-3 Hole 17 whilst Lujja’s hole-in-one came on par-3 Hole 4.

A former winner of the Uganda Professional Open in Entebbe, Moore completed the second round with 2-under-70, and Lujja was level par (72).

In total, 36 players made the cut-line for the Ugx. 150,000,000 prize money kitty.

The next two rounds are anticipated to be epic and explosive as the golfers target improved scores for better placements.

Five lady professional players took part during the first 36 holes, and none made the cut.

Evah Magala, Flavia Namakula, Irene Nakalembe, Eaton Angel and Nigerian Cynthia Maurice all competed.

Round three is on Friday, 4th September 2026 as the golfers eye 54 holes. The main pressure group of Kasozi, Rugumayo and Olapade will tee off at half past noon.

The official prize-giving ceremony is on Saturday, 5th September 2026.

Johnnie Walker is the headline sponsor of the 2026 Uganda Golf Open series, that had ladies, seniors, professionals and amateurs.

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