Giraffes interrupt play before Singapore teenager Shannon Tan makes history at Kenya Ladies Open

It was quite literally neck and neck at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open before teenager Shannon Tan wrote her name into the history books.

It was quite literally neck and neck at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open before teenager Shannon Tan wrote her name into the history books. Two giraffes took a leisurely stroll onto the 18th fairway during the final round at Vipingo Ridge’s Baobab course, which is nestled within a wildlife sanctuary where a range of African species – from monkeys to zebra and antelope – are free to roam. Many of the wildlife are rescue animals, including Sunday’s two wandering giraffes. One of the duo is named Valentine after being saved from drought as a baby orphan in Samburu, northern Kenya, on Valentine’s Day in 2021, according to Vipingo Ridge’s website. After the pair sauntered back into the trees, the focus returned to the 19-year-old charging towards the giraffe-shaped winners trophy on her first Ladies European Tour (LET) start as a professional. Having begun the day sharing the lead with Alessandra Fanali, Tan rolled in five birdies to pull away from the Italian and finish victorious at 12-under overall, making her the first Singaporean to ever win on the LET. The Texas Tech University alumni turned professional in January after becoming the first golfer from her country to earn a full LET card the previous month and having won the Singapore Ladies Masters – an event on the China LPGA Tour – as an amateur in July.