Venessa Peris says patience, smart course management and a positive mindset were key to her triumph at the 2026 Hima Captain’s Putter tournament held at Entebbe Golf Club.
Peris, playing off handicap 20, emerged as the overall ladies’ winner in the prestigious event, securing her second Captain’s Putter crown after previously winning the tournament in 2023.
The experienced golfer revealed that the unique Tombstone format required a different approach throughout the round, forcing players to think carefully about every shot.
“This tournament always changes your golf strategy because you are constantly thinking about what comes next rather than the end of the game,” Peris said after her victory.
She described the win as particularly satisfying given the level of competition, with more than 160 golfers taking part in the event.
“I’m very proud because this is my second time winning after 2023. The competition was tough and everyone was pushing hard,” she said.
Peris admitted her round did not start perfectly, having struggled on several holes during the front nine. However, encouragement from her caddie helped her stay focused and avoid costly mistakes.
“In the first nine holes I had a couple of sixes and my caddie kept reminding me that there should be no more sixes,” she explained.
According to Peris, the turning point came at the 14th hole where she recovered well despite missing a birdie opportunity.
“Hole 14 was a turning point. I should have had a birdie but settled for a bogey,” she said.
The former champion said her confidence grew later in the round when her caddie informed her that she still had plenty of strokes remaining under the Tombstone format.
“On Hole 17, I asked my caddie how many strokes I had left and he told me I still had more than 20. That gave me confidence to finish strongly,” she added.
Peris believes maintaining the right attitude remains crucial to sustaining good performances on the course. “I just need to keep a healthy appetite for golf and continue playing with a positive attitude,” she said.
The tournament, sponsored by Hima Cement, attracted a large field of golfers and concluded with celebrations at the clubhouse.
In the men’s category, Isaac Kyoyagala claimed the overall title after an impressive performance on the Entebbe Golf Club course.
