Now top event can Imagine

• New sponsor replaces The Golf Shop, Heron and Optica at Tannahil

Kenya’s major inter-club tournament, the annual Tannahill Shield, which is this year scheduled for the Easter weekend, has landed a new sponsor.

Brand services agency Imagine IMC will sponsor the country’s oldest and most prolific foursomes matchplay event as it marks its 86th year since it was first held at Royal Nairobi, replacing 2009 sponsors The Golf Shop Limited, Heron Hotel and Optica who have been associated with the tournament for many years.

One of the most prestigious tournaments in the Kenyan sport, it brings together top golfers from all over the country, each competing to clinch the Tannahill Shield for their club.

The 2010 edition will be held from April 2-4 at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, ahead of this year’s Africa Zone Six Championship in Botswana.

Some of the participants, particularly those in the national team, will therefore be using the event as final tune-up for the continental tournament.
So-called ‘small clubs’

Widely regarded as Kenya’s equivalent to the International Ryder Cup, the event was won last year by Muthaiga Golf Club, who have now won seven titles in 10 years against Royal Nairobi’s three. Overall, the two clubs have dominated the tournament for the past 86 years.

Last year the trophy went to Vet Lab Sports Club, one of the so-called ‘small clubs’. Vet Lab has of late put up a strong show courtesy of a member, Abdallah “Baba’’ Bekah, who has over the years recruited a number of its leading players from the caddie ranks, some of whom have gone on to become professionals.

Vet Lab, or “Kabete’’ as it is popularly known, will be one of the teams to watch during this year’s battle at Royal where, according to club captain Zubin Parikh, preparations are in progress.

Elsewhere, A Ryder Cup without world number one Tiger Woods is a diminished event, European captain Colin Montgomerie said on Tuesday.

Woods, who is taking an indefinite break from golf, has been in hiding since admitting in December he had cheated on his wife.

“I do think it will be diminished if he doesn’t play [at the Ryder Cup in October] but at the same time that’s up to him and America,” said Montgomerie ahead of this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.

“Any event he enters is a bigger and better event because of him and I hope he does play.”

Woods also missed the 2008 edition of the biennial team event as he was recuperating from knee surgery.

Montgomerie was speaking on the same day it was announced that Emirates would be the official airline of the Ryder Cup match between the US holders and Europe in Wales.

Summarised weekend golf results