Mombasa finally win Tannahill Shield tournament

**Mombasa Golf Club team celebrates after emerging winners of the Tannahill Shield Centenary Easter Golf tournament at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club course, on April 20, 2025**. [Courtesy, Standard].

For over a hundred years, golfers from Mombasa Golf Club often travel to Royal Nairobi Golf Club, the oldest in the country founded in 1906, to traditionally play the annual Tannahill Shield Golf tournament over Easter holidays but with no success.

The 11-man team led by coach Gurbux Singh and team manager Eric Nyongesa recorded their first ever win in history to finish with a tournament-best total of 48 points to be crowned the 2025 champions.

Mombasa Golf Club opened the tournament with a strong performance in Round 1, securing 12 points, 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.

Team Mombasa had 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 who both 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 Series.

Mombasa captain George Mokaya expressed his pride in the team’s performance.

“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," said Mokaya.

Mombasa Golf Club Chairman Lawrence Odhiambo said the tournament has been a true celebration of team work, sportsmanship and friendly competition and thanked all the players for their hard work and dedication.

“Congratulations to our team winners, your skills and determination have earned us this victory and lets all continue to cherish this spirit of Tannahill, for it is indeed a precious gift handed to us by our forefathers and together we shall hand it to the generations to come," said Odhiambo.

Muthaiga Golf Club delivered a steady campaign to finish second overall with 39 points while a thrilling battle for the third slot saw Kenya Railway Golf Club and Vet Lab Sports Club tie with 35 points.

Sigona Golf Club and Western Kenya were tied at 30 points each with Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club following on 29 points, while defending champions Royal Nairobi Golf Club, despite home-course advantage, finished on position eight overall with 26 points and 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 a cumulative 477 gross, Western Kenya followed closely with 480 gross and hosts Royal Nairobi came in at 481 gross.

The tournament marked the 100th edition of Kenya’s most prestigious inter-club invitational golf tournament that brought together nine elite golfing teams from across the country.

These included hosts Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Mombasa Golf Club, Muthaiga Golf Club, Kenya Railway Golf Club, Vet Lab Sports Club, Sigona Golf Club, Western Kenya team, Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club and Limuru Country Club.

Tannahill Shield is a prestigious annual inter-club foursomes golf tournament in Kenya, inaugurated in 1924 and is one of the largest amateur golf events in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The tournament was initially an event between Royal Nairobi and Mombasa Golf Clubs, eventually expanding to include other clubs.