Muthaiga Club win Tannahill Shield

By James Waindi

Muthaiga Golf Club amassed 55 points to emerge this year’s Tannahill Shield tournament champions at the par 72 Muthaiga Golf Club.

The team comprising of three national team players, Collins Omondi, Stefen Andersen and Paul Thuo maintained the lead from the first round to win the 86th edition of the event.

Other members of the winning team included Rajesh Bhabra (Captain), Evans Vitisia, Kumar Dhall, Ashwin Gidoomal, former club chairman Tim Onyango and John Gitonga.

It was sweet revenge for Muthaiga who narrowly lost the winner’s prize to hosts Royal last year.

"We had a strong team this year and there is no way we could be stopped by any club," said Muthaiga’s Omondi.

Royal, which was represented by Aamil Mughal, Joseah Kogo, Jay Sandhu, Jatinder Thethy, Jack Okuku, Farsheed Alibhai, Nadeem Alibhai, Hesbon Kutwa, Zubin Parikh and M. Mugambi settled for the runners-up position with 44.

After starting the first round on a low note where they finished four shots behind Muthaiga, Royal won the second round on 16 but tumbled on the remaining two rounds.

Vet Lab finished third on 39, while Karen Golf and Country Club was fourth on 34 and Sigona finished fifth.

Started in 1924

The first Tannahill Shield took place in 1924 and it has been held annually since then.

Kenya Railways Golf Club was relegated from the event last year and has been replaced by Windsor Golf and Country Club.

The format of play in the four round event was foursomes match play over 18 holes off scratch.

Each of the nine clubs that participated consisted of four playing pairs and two reserve players for each round.

Each team played around against every other club team entered and each pair played two matches simultaneously.

Other teams that participated included Western Kenya (25), Mombasa Golf Club (24), Limuru Golf and Country Club (24) and Windsor (8).