Mombasa Golf Club Team celebrate their triumph at the 100th edition of the Tanahill Shield tournament at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Mombasa Golf Club, sponsored by NCBA Bank, claimed their first-ever Tannahill Shield victory in the centennial edition of the prestigious Easter Golf Tournament, with a total gross of 48 points across four intense rounds of play. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Hosted at the scenic and historic Royal Nairobi Golf Club, a 119-year-old par-72 course, this year’s Tannahill Shield Easter Tournament marked its 100th anniversary from April 18 to April 20, 2025. It brought together nine elite teams, including Mombasa Golf Club, Muthaiga Golf Club, Kenya Railway Golf Club, Vet Lab Sports Club, Sigona Golf Club, Western Kenya team, Windsor Golf Club, Royal Nairobi Golf Club, and Limuru Country Club.

Mombasa Golf Club opened the tournament with a strong performance in Round 1, securing 12 points. The team continued its dominance with 15 points in Round 2, 10 points in Round 3, and sealed the win with another 11 points in Round 4, finishing with a tournament-best total of 48 points, a clear nine-point lead over their nearest rivals, Muthaiga Golf Club.

Their triumph was led by team captain Gurbux Singh and team manager Erick Nyongesa, with an impressive line-up of elite amateurs including Adel Balala, William Odeck, Sammy Mulama, Josphat Rono, Henry Kamau, Feisal Lasker, George Munyao, Charles Rob, and promising junior Nathan Ngweno. Balala and Odeck, both of whom made appearances at the 2025 Magical Kenya Open, were instrumental in delivering critical wins, while Mulama and Kamau brought their seasoned experience from the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series.

Mombasa Golf Club Team Captain George Mokaya expressed his pride in the team’s performance and thanked NCBA for their support towards the team over the past three years: “This win means the world to us, not just because it’s the 100th edition, but because of what it took to get here. Every player gave it their all, and this moment is a reflection of months of hard work, discipline, and the belief we’ve built within the team. We’re immensely grateful to NCBA for walking with us on this journey over the last three years, and this trophy is just as much theirs as it is ours.”

Muthaiga Golf Club delivered a steady campaign, finishing second overall with 39 points (5 in Round 1, 10 in Round 2, 11 in Round 3, and 13 in Round 4). A thrilling battle for third saw Kenya Railway Golf Club and Vet Lab Sports Club tie with 35 points each. Kenya Railways posted rounds of 7, 10, 13, and 5, while Vet Lab rallied from an early 13 to secure 3, 10, and 9 points in subsequent rounds.

Sigona Golf Club and Western Kenya were tied at 30 points, with Sigona showing consistency (7-4-9-10) and Western posting rounds of 7, 12, 5, and 6. Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club followed with 29 points, while defending champions Royal Nairobi Golf Club, despite home-course advantage, finished on position 8 overall with 26. Limuru Country Club rounded off the leaderboard with 16 points.

Earlier in the week, Mombasa Golf Club’s senior squad had set the tone, clinching the top spot in their category with gross scores of 239 in Round 1 and 238 in Round 2, for a cumulative 477 gross. Western Kenya followed closely with 480, and hosts Royal Nairobi came in at 481, underlining how fine the margins were at every level of competition.

Speaking at the event, NCBA Bank Corporate Banking Director Charles Omondi congratulated the Mombasa team and reiterated the bank’s long-term commitment to nurturing talent and driving impact in communities across Kenya:

“This victory by Mombasa Golf Club is a proud moment for us as NCBA. We believe in going beyond banking by investing in platforms that shape character, instill discipline, and bring people together. Golf embodies all these values that also align perfectly with our purpose. We are especially proud to have walked this journey with Mombasa Golf Club over the past years, and today’s result proves that great things happen when we grow together. As we mark the centenary of the Tannahill Shield, we hope that this win will inspire a new generation of golfers, not just in Mombasa, but across the country.”

Overall Gross Lady winner Esther Karuga follows her putt during the Nakuru Golf Club leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series-min

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Paul Muhia emerged as the overall gross winner as Esther Karuga claimed the lady’s gross title during the sixth leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series that was held over the weekend at the scenic par-73 Nakuru Golf Club. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Playing off handicap 2, Muhia carded a gross score of 75 to triumph at Nakuru while Karuga (HC 16) returned a score of 90 to top the ladies’ gross category.

Muhia and Karuga led six players from the Nakuru event who have now qualified for the 2025 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale, including the Division 2 Men’s and Ladies’ Winners, the Overall Division 3 Winner and the Junior Winner to make it six.

Mackton Wekomba (HC 10) delivered a standout performance, collecting 44 Stableford points to win the Men’s Division 1 category. Moses Ndegwa topped the Men’s Division category with 39 points, while Esther Thuku took home the ladies’ Division 2 title after carding 38 points. In Division 3, Risper Muriithi emerged as the overall winner after posting 35 points off handicap 31 to finish ahead of the pack.

In the junior category, Gurtej Sahota (HC 17) scored 34 points to finish first among the five juniors who showed up for the event. The region boasts of 50 junior golfers who are part of NCBA’s development program with the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF).

NCBA Deputy Director, and Head of Brands Jacquie Muhati said: “As NCBA we dared to dream by Investing in golf to professionalize the game. As part of our Changing the Story NCBA junior golf across Africa isn’t just about nurturing talent it’s about building a legacy. By creating a strong pipeline for young athletes, we’re unlocking not only Kenya’s potential but the continent’s potential and paving the way for a new generation of Kenyan golf professionals to shine on the world stage.”

Patrick Mburu (23) emerged as the guest winner after scoring 34 points as well while Rahab Thuo (HC 26) triumphed in the staff category with 30 points.

Overall Gross Lady winner at the Nakuru Golf Club leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series Esther Karuga is awarded by NCBA Deputy Director, and Head of Brands Jacquie Muhati (2).

Nakuru Golf Club Captain Michael Mululu won the nearest to the pin prize in the men’s category with Njeri Kimani doing so in the ladies’. Brendan Ireland and Gentar Nabwire had the longest drives for the day.

The tournament brought together more than 180 amateur golfers from across the Rift Valley region, all vying for top honors and a chance to secure coveted slots at the series’ Grand Finale later this year.

In addition to the grand finale slots, there was a hole-in-one prize on offer courtesy of a partnership between NCBA and leading construction and agricultural equipment dealer, JCB Ganatra Plant and Equipment. However, no one managed to sink it on the fourth hole to take home the brand-new JCB Backhoe Loader, Model 3DX.

 “Congratulations to today’s winners. We believe in the power of sport to do more, unite communities, promote inclusivity, and drive meaningful change. That’s why this series exists. Not only to grow the game of golf, but to build stronger bonds across regions, and to celebrate the people and places that make this country so special.

This initiative is also deeply connected to our sustainability agenda, Change The Story, through which we have committed to advancing inclusive communities and promoting sports development across Kenya. Our investment in golf is not just about today’s tournaments but about creating opportunities and nurturing potential for the future.”

In addition to the spectacular golf, NCBA continued its commitment to environmental sustainability by donating and planting 100 trees at Nakuru Golf Club as part of its broader citizenship agenda.

The Nakuru leg followed successful outings at VetLab Sports Club, Nandi Bears Club, Malindi Golf Club, and Kenya Railway Golf Club, with Thika Sports Club hosting the next qualifier event at the end of April.