March 28, 2024

News

Resilient Team Sigona wins the Tannahill Shield in style

Team Sigona today clinched the Tannahill Shield for the first time since 2013 after a near-perfect final round performance with a total of 43 points, as the curtains came down on the biggest amateurs’ team competition at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club

After seizing the pole position in the third round, all stars were aligned for Team Sigona as they were pitted against the tournament’s whipping boys Windsor and Karen. And they never looked back as they went on to pick 13 out of the 16 points on offer today to be crowned the champions.

Team Mombasa finished second on 40 points in a tough fixture against fellow-contenders Team Western and Team Limuru. Going into the final round tied with Team Western on 28 points, six behind the leaders Team Sigona, the coast lads managed a decent return of 12 points today. They will rue their lackadaisical second round performance where they picked only four points to drop off the pace. However, a strong show in the final two rounds ensured that Team Mombasa finished three places better than last year. Team Mombasa has never won the Tannahill Shield.

Round one leaders Team Western ran out of steam to finish third on 36 points. Chasing their first title since 1996, the Westerners were quick off the blocks with impressive performances in the opening three rounds but met their waterloo in the final round today when they only managed eight points in their fixture against Mombasa and Limuru.

Team Sigona- Photo Credit: Nelly Njaga

It was another heartbreak for hosts Team Royal who finished a distant sixth, 18 points behind the winners. After briefly reviving title hopes with a strong second round performance, Team Royal failed to rise to the occasion in the ensuing two rounds. The hosts managed a paltry eight points out of the 32 on offer as they were pitted against neighbours Railway and Muthaiga, for their lowest finish in recent times.

Defending champions Team Muthaiga finished joint-third after a late rally that saw them pick decent 11 points in the crunch final round fixture. Team Windsor returns to the cold after finishing last with 17 points, six behind Team Karen.

The Tannahill Shield was first held in 1924 as a competition pitting two clubs. The tournament has since grown to a nine team interclub duel each comprising of 10 players. Traditionally, the team that finishes last among the Nairobi based clubs is relegated. Mombasa and Western teams are permanent invitees and are therefore never in danger of being relegated.

The inter-club foursome event is played over four rounds in three days. One round is played on Friday, while Saturday features a grueling 36-hole test with players wrapping up the tournament with an 18-hole round on Sunday morning.

TANNAHILL SHIELD LEADERBOARD

Team            Points

Sigona          47

Mombasa    40

Western       36

Muthaiga     36

Railway        32

Royal            29

Limuru          28

Karen            23

Windsor       17

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