NAIROBI ROYAL DOES IT AGAIN: Golf club retains Tannahill Shield for third successive year

TANNAHILL SHIELD Vice Captain Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Charles Omondi, Royal Captain Peter Serem and Immediate past Captain for Royal, Bernard Kiraithe displaying the Tanahill Shield. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD

Defending champions Royal Nairobi Golf Club got 53 points to retain the Tannahill Shield for the third successive year.

Royal beat eight other clubs by a massive 15 points, the biggest margin in the past 10 years.

“We had prepared for this year’s tournament very well. We really wanted to retain the Tannahill Shield as we celebrate our 91st edition,” said Royal Nairobi Golf Club captain, Peter Serem.

Limuru and Vetlab golf clubs finished second in the main tournament with 38 points each, while Railways Golf Club was third with 33 points.

The 2016 Tannahill Shield ended on Easter Sunday after a week-long schedule of golf activities at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

The participating clubs were: Muthaiga Golf Club, Karen Country Club, Sigona Golf Club, Limuru Country Club, Railway Golf Club, Western Kenya,

Others were Mombasa Team, Vet Lab Sports Club and hosts, Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

Sigona and Muthaiga Golf Clubs were fifth with 30 points each, while Karen had 27 points and Western, 25 points. Mombasa Sports Club, a sister club of Royal Nairobi Golf Club was ninth with 14 points.

“Our players don’t play for money, but for pride, bragging rights and to win the silver shield donated by Major Arthur Tannahill,” said the captain.

Royal won 3-1 in their match against Western as they collected 6-2 points. They also defeated Sigona on a score of 6-2 for a total of 12 points, which enabled them to retain the title for the third successive year.

“I’m very excited. That we not only retained the title, but did so with much authority,” Royal’s team captain Bo Ciera, said.

The Tannahill Golf Tournament is played by teams of amateur golfers from various clubs, who showcase their golfing skills, while enjoying the company of other competing golfers.

The winner is determined through a scoring system, where teams earn two points for a win, one point for a draw and no point for a loss. The inaugural Junior Easter Tournament preceded the annual Shield tournament.