BY THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER
Kenya’s Kanana Muthomi and Tanzania’s Mahmood Somji were among the major winners as the 2026 Sterling Invitational Golf Championship concluded at Kilimanjaro Golf Club, last weekend.
Muthomi captured the women’s championship after completing the 54-hole contest on 225, nine over par whereas Somji secured the overall Senior Men’s title in the separate 36-hole senior competition.
Tanzania also enjoyed a strong showing in the women’s championship through Madina Hussein, who finished second behind Muthomi after remaining among the leading contenders throughout the three-day tournament.
Hussein completed the championship on 231, 15 over par, six shots behind the Kenyan winner.
The Tanzanian began strongly with an opening round of 75 before improving to 74 in the second round. She entered the final day still in contention, but a closing round of 82 left Muthomi in control of the title.
Muthomi, meanwhile, followed an opening 75 with a level-par 72 in the second round before returning 78 on the final day to complete her winning total.
Kenyan golfers occupied much of the upper section of the women’s leaderboard with Chloe Cherono taking third place on 240.
Bianca Ngecu followed in fourth position with 241, Mercy Nyanchama was fifth on 243 and Brianna Ngecu placed sixth with 244.
Tanzanian players, however, remained well represented among the leading finishers.
Neema Olomi finished seventh with 248, while Hawa Wanyeche took eighth place on 249. Doris Mediva finished ninth on 250 before Aalaa Somji completed the top 10 with 251.
Defending champion Ashley Awuor of Kenya was unable to retain the title, finishing outside the leading group as Muthomi took over the crown.
In the senior competition, Mahmood Somji gave the hosts another reason to celebrate by emerging as the overall Senior Men’s winner.
Former Tanzania Ladies Golf Union president Sophia Viggo took the Overall Senior Ladies’ honours as Tanzanian golfers featured prominently across the different categories.
Kenya’s Naomi Wakesho won the Division B Ladies’ competition.
There were also individual honours for Aalaa Somji, who recorded the Ladies’ Longest Drive, while Mohamed Walji took the Senior Men’s Longest Drive prize.
The tournament brought together 36 female golfers from Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda for the 54-hole women’s competition while 27 senior men golfers contested in 36 holes.
The tournament was sponsored by by Sterling Surfactant Limited.
