Mombasa Golf Club has etched its name in the history books after emerging champions of the 2025 Tannahill Shield Centenary Tournament, held over three action-packed days — April 18th to 20th — at the prestigious Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
Marking the 100th edition of Kenya’s most prestigious inter-club invitational golf event, this year’s tournament 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, the Western Kenya team, Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, and Limuru Country Club.
Mombasa Golf Club, sponsored by NCBA Bank, delivered a consistent and spirited performance across all four rounds, finishing with a remarkable gross total of 48 points — nine strokes clear of their closest challengers Muthaiga Golf Club.
This marks their first-ever victory in the tournament’s 100-year history.
The championship-winning squad featured team captain Gurbux Singh, team manager Erick Nyongesa, and a formidable lineup of elite amateurs: Adel Balala, William Odeck, Sammy Mulama, Josphat Rono, Henry Kamau, Feisal Lasker, George Munyao, Charles Rob, and promising junior Nathan Ngweno.
Balala and Odeck, both fresh off appearances at the 2025 Magical Kenya Open, played pivotal roles with crucial wins, while Mulama and Kamau brought veteran experience from the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series.
Team Mombasa opened their campaign with a strong 12 points in Round 1, setting the pace early. They built on that momentum with a tournament-high 15 points in Round 2, before holding steady with 10 and 11 points in Rounds 3 and 4 respectively.
Their total of 48 points secured a dominant victory over Muthaiga Golf Club, who put up a spirited fight to finish second with 39 points.
Speaking after the historic win, Team Captain Gurbux Singh expressed his pride in the team’s achievement.
Kenya Railway’s standout moment came with a 13-point performance in Round 3, while Vet Lab started strong with 13 points in Round 1 but couldn’t maintain the tempo.
“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 reflects months of hard work, discipline, and belief. We’re immensely grateful to NCBA for walking with us over the last three years. This trophy is just as much theirs as it is ours.”
Tight Contests and Notable Finishes
The race for third place ended in a tie between Kenya Railway Golf Club and Vet Lab Sports Club, both finishing with 35 points.
Sigona Golf Club and the Western Kenya Team tied for fifth with 30 points each, delivering flashes of brilliance.
Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club secured seventh place with 29 points, while the host club, Royal Nairobi, struggled to find form and ended eighth with 26 points
Limuru Country Club rounded off the leaderboard with 16 points.
Seniors Set the Pace
Earlier in the week, Mombasa Golf Club’s senior team had already set the tone, topping their category with impressive gross scores of 239 and 238 in Rounds 1 and 2, for a cumulative score of 477 gross.
The Western Kenya seniors followed closely with 480, while hosts Royal Nairobi finished with 481 — a testament to the fine margins that defined the competition.
Corporate Support Driving Success
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Charles Omondi, NCBA Bank Corporate Banking Director, congratulated the Mombasa team and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to nurturing talent and creating impact.
“This victory by Mombasa Golf Club is a proud moment for us as NCBA. We believe in going beyond banking by investing in platforms that build character, instill discipline, and bring people together. Golf embodies all these values, which align perfectly with our purpose.”
He added: “We’re proud to have walked this journey with Mombasa Golf Club over the years. Today’s result proves that great things happen when we grow together. As we mark the centenary of the Tannahill Shield, we hope this win inspires a new generation of golfers—not just in Mombasa, but across the country.”
