By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Defending champions, Royal Nairobi Golf Club Team has emerged the winner of the 95^th Tannahill shield 2019. The tournament took place at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club over the Easter Weekend. The Royal team retained its position following stiff competition from Western and Mombasa who came in a close second and third respectively.

“This was one of the most competitive Tannahill tournaments in recent years,’’ said Royal Nairobi Golf Club 2019 Team Captain Joseah Kogo.

He added: “We put up a good fight this year. It wasn’t easy but we managed to retain the title. The teams this year came out much stronger. The tournament has been gaining that competitive momentum and thus the stiff competition. Having won the title last year, we knew that we had to put in more work this year to ensure we did not lose the title.’’

Royal was able to scoop 43 points and emerge top. Western came in a close second with 42 points leaving Mombasa to take the third position with 37 points.

Tannahill is the oldest golf tournament in Kenya having been hosted at Royal Nairobi Golf Club since 1924. Qualification into the tournament is by invitation only ensuring a field of some of the best amateurs in the country. The participating teams are drawn from the top clubs in Nairobi, with teams made up of members from clubs in Western Kenya and Mombasa competing over 3 rounds. The other teams that took place in the tournament included Muthaiga, Mombasa, Limuru, Sigona, Windsor and Railway.

The Royal Nairobi Golf Club team also won the Tannahill Junior title with 343 gross. Sigona took the second position with 345 gross and in third position was western Team with 349 gross.

‘’We appreciate the effort the Tannahill Shield has put over the years to grow and nurture golfing talent in the country,’’ said Leon Kiptum, Country Manager, Betway Kenya, “Betway Kenya sponsors sports events to provide an opportunity for amateur players to display their talent and be recognised for the future of their sporting careers. We congratulate all the teams for your great performance in this year’s tournament,’’ added Kiptum.

Betway Kenya was the title sponsor for the Tannahill Shield this year. Other sponsors for the tournament included Jamii Telkom, AAR Healthcare, Baseline and Glenlivet.

Rory McIlroy continued his rise up the world rankings on Monday as the four-time major champion jumped one spot to third, while Dustin Johnson retained his narrow lead at the top.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, who started the year ranked eighth, was beaten in the last 16 of the WGC World Matchplay by Tiger Woods but still moved past Brooks Koepka into third.

Johnson secured an 81st week as world number one despite a group-stage exit in Austin, as his closest rival Justin Rose also fell at the first hurdle.

Woods climbed two spots to 12th place, while Matchplay winner Kevin Kisner rose from 50th to 25th.

Jordan Spieth’s freefall down the rankings continued, as the three-time major champion slipped out of the top 30 despite posting his best finish of 2019 by finishing tied-24th in Texas.

World top 20:

1. Dustin Johnson (USA)         9.54 average pts

2. Justin Rose (ENG)            9.51

3. Rory McIlroy (NIR)           8.38 (+1)

4. Brooks Koepka (USA)          8.29 (-1)

5. Justin Thomas (USA)          8.13

6. Bryson DeChambeau (USA)      7.34

7. Francesco Molinari (ITA)     7.07

8. Rickie Fowler (USA)          5.96 (+2)

9. Jon Rahm (ESP)               5.93 (-1)

10. Xander Schauffele (USA)     5.92 (-1)

11. Paul Casey (ENG)            5.55

12. Tiger Woods (USA)           5.37 (+2)

13. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)       5.13 (-1)

14. Jason Day (AUS)             4.96 (-1)

15. Tony Finau (USA)            4.94

16. Matt Kuchar (USA)           4.71 (+8)

17. Bubba Watson (USA)          4.51 (-1)

18. Patrick Reed (USA)          4.44 (-1)

19. Marc Leishman (AUS)         4.31 (-1)

20. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)      4.22

Selected:

22. Phil Mickelson (USA)        4.02 (-1)

25. Kevin Kisner (USA)          3.81 (+25)

27. Sergio Garcia (ESP)         3.62

32. Jordan Spieth (USA)         3.34 (-2)