Royal Nairobi Golf Club team members during last year’s Tannahill Shield.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The 98th edition of the Annual Tannahill Golf Tournament is set to take place from Tuesday to Sunday at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious amateur golf events in sub–Saharan Africa, the tournament will bring together the best amateur players from nine teams from Nairobi, Mombasa, and Western region of Kenya to compete for the coveted Tannahill Shield.

“Unlike other golf events, the Tannahill Golf Tournament is played by teams, instead of individuals of amateur golfers from various clubs who are keen to showcase their golfing skills and team spirit whilst enjoying the company of other competing golfers,” notes Royal Nairobi’s golf captain Peter Mwangi.

The participating clubs this year are hosts Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Mombasa Golf Club, Muthaiga Golf Club, Western Kenya, Limuru Country Club, Kenya Railways Golf Club, Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Sigona Golf Club and Karen Country Club.

“We have been in contact with all participating teams, and they are all excited and training hard so that they can win this coveted trophy,’ added the captain.

Muthaiga Golf Club have won the past two editions and the hosts will be keen to claim the title back.

There will be two curtain raiser tournaments before the main Tournament over the Easter weekend. Firstly, there will be a Junior Tannahill where youngsters from Vetlab Sports Club will try to defend the title they took from Royal Nairobi Golf Club last year. The Junior tournament will be held over two days, Tuesday, 4th and Wednesday, 5th April 2023. Vetlab beat the Royal juniors by three shots which led to a very closely contested finish.

The Senior Tannahill Tournament will also be held for the second time. The senior Tannahill is open to golfers over the age of 55 years. The senior tournament will be held on the morning of Good Friday April 7th where the seniors from Muthaiga Golf Club will try to defend the title they won last year. Muthaiga pipped the hosts RNGC to the title with Kenya Railways Golf club coming a close third.

The Tannahill tournament is the brainchild of Major Arthur Tannahill and was inaugurated in 1924 as an annual event when the general committee of the then Nairobi Golf Club invited teams representing Mombasa, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nakuru and Muthaiga to participate in the tournament. Every club plays one match against each of the other clubs, eight players a side and the format was four-ball-better-ball match play.

It is the only three-way competitive foursomes match play tournament in the world. The Foursomes is a competition format in which a team is composed of two players, and those two golfers alternate hitting the same ball sometimes called “alternate shot” format.

The tournament this year is sponsored by Jamii Telecommunications and supported by Crystal Rivers, Coca- Cola, EABL, St. John Ambulance, AAR, Yogo yogo, KNH and Farmers Choice.

A lady golfer in action during the Chairman’s Cup Prize at Ruiru Club on Saturday.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Paul Kamau emerged as the overall winner of the KCB-sponsored chairman’s prize at the Ruiru Sports Club on Saturday evening.

Playing off handicap 22, the seasoned golfer carded 42 points to beat his closest challenger Ben Kanyi on countback to win the tourney at the Thika-based facility.

The par 72 golf course brought together 300 golfers who battled for the top honors. Runner up Ben Kanyi, handicap 22 was named the man winner with 42 points ahead of Kibera Maina (handicap 22) and Alex Machocho (handicap 21) who carded 41 and 40 points respectively.

Former Kiambu golf club captain Ann Ngumba triumphed in the ladies’ category, playing off handicap 21 to emerge top with 40 points. Handicapper 18 Tabitha Kiragu came in second with 39 points while Faith Nyagaki settled for third place on 37 points.

Speaking over the phone after being feted in absentia, Paul Kamau said: “Beating 300 golfers is not a small achievement especially when you’re playing the chairman’s prize. I think my confidence and a bit of luck handed me the win today. The second nine was fantastic, I hope to continue with the same momentum going forward and hopefully win more tournaments.”

Handicap 26 Amos Mwaura clinched the first nine award whereas his fellow golfer handicap 14 Steven Mwitari scooped the second nine award.

In the Guest winner award in the men and ladies’ category, handicappers 23 and 21 Stanley Wainaina and Rebecca Njui took home the awards respectively. Benson Kimani was crowned the nearest to the pin award in the men category while Sophie Mbochi was the lady winner.