Elijah Ibua showed his class to win at the par 71 Sea-Link Mombasa Golf course in Mombasa County on Saturday.
The left handed golfer who is also a past captain of the club carded the day’s excellent score of 45 stable ford points to emerge the overall winner of the Centennial Tannahill Shield home coming golf tournament beating a team of 100 golfers.
Ibua who is also commonly known as the “Mesiah” sunk a rare birdie at the par 3-seventh hole, added to his score by rolling five level pars against mixed bogey shots on the rest of the 18 holes, to scoop the top slot and register his maiden victory.
“It’s a great day for me today to win this tournament after being just a spectator during prize giving ceremonies for many years but today it’s just by the grace of God who answered my prayers. The course is playing well with all my shots going the right way against the ocean winds and I had a great time with my four ball team. It seems I will now be shining in the forthcoming tournaments,“ said Ibua.
The day long tournament was used to celebrate the club’s overall victory in the 2025 TannaHill shield tournament played during the Easter weekend at Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
Club Captain George Mokaya was the men winner on 42 points while Justine Ongere claimed the runners up spot on a count back score of 38 points after tying with third placed Willy Sang.
The lady’s title was scooped by Carol Munyi on 37 points as Connie Achila with 33 points was second while Orpha Wamaitha on 32 points was third.
Owen Kwalia won the higher handicapper’s prize with 37 points and Eldoret Golf Cub’s Johana Chepto carded 36 points to win the guest prize.
Club Chairman Lawrence Odhiambo and his captain Mokaya praised the club members team for finally bringing the Tannahill Shield trophy after over 100 years of trying.
“This is a celebration of our historic achievement and through our continued unity and support, we are not going to let the trophy slip from our hands. Our Team both the seniors and the juniors, made us proud and it’s a win for everyone at the Club,” said Odhiambo.
Elsewhere at Machakos Country club on the same day, Joseph Musomba emerged the overall winner of the KAM Lower Eastern Region Golf tournament that attracted 150 golfers.
The handicap 16 Musomba recorded a fine score of 45 points to scoop the overall top prize while handicap 24 Michael Ngao was the runners up on a two way count back score of 37 points after tying on the same spot with third placed handicap 3 Edwin Saluny and handicap 13 David Mwagangi who was fourth.
Nancy Kariuki playing off handicap 13 also returned a count back score of 37 points to win the lady’s prize on the same points with runners up handicap 10 Catherine Kilonzo.
The senior prize was won by handicap 16 Mark Okeyo with 42 points while handicap 37 Lawrence Njenga on 30 points went home with the sponsor winner’s prize and Elizabeth Wanjiru playing off handicap 37 won the guest prize on 30 points.
The subsidiary men winner was handicap 30 Kyalo Munyao on a score of 41 points and the same prize for the lady was scooped by handicap 38 Everlyne Munyeti who had 37 points.
Collins Nzioka won the Longest drive men prize as Isabel Imbuye and Edwin Saluny carried home the longest drive lady and the nearest to the pin winners’ prizes.
Maarufu Mohamed
| May 12, 2025