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Couples golf tournament raises US$30,000 for Bahamas hurricane relief

Published:Wednesday | October 16, 2019 | 12:00 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
(From left) Paul Issa, Deputy Chairman of Couples Resorts, Alex Ghisays, Group PR Director Couples Resorts, and Tammy Browne of the Montego Bay Animal Haven hold the sponsorship cheque for the Bahamas Hurricane Relief following the Couples Negril Charity Golf Tournament recently.

The 13th annual Couples Resorts Negril Charity Golf Tournament did their philanthropic best to help the hurricane-ravaged islands in The Bahamas as US$30,000 was raised towards the worthy cause.

The majority of that funds came via an online raffle that the resort chain had set up with the rest coming from their golf tournament, which was held at the Negril Hills Golf Club on Sunday.

A small part of the funds will be disbursed to the Montego Bay Animal Haven to offset the administrative cost associated with the running of their shelter.

Some 42 golfers descended on the Negril Hills course to take part in the annual two-man scrambl format golf tournament, and in the end, it was the local pair of Phillip Wilson and Nadine Godfrey with a net score of 62, that walked away with the top prize of a three-night stay at Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril.

Murine Blake and Vernal Campbell, who shot a combined gross score of 67, took top spot in that category. Former Cricket West Indies President Dave Cameron and his playing partner Sherard Philbert finished in second place with a net score of 64.75, while the second-place gross score went to Neville Carr and Paul Arthurs. The third-place net score of 64.75 went to Steve Richards and Norris Scafe. American Mike Hefty secured the putting contest title.

Good cause

In the meantime, Couples Resorts CEO Glen Lawrence, who placed fifth along with playing partner Richard White, said the day was a well-received one and all in a good cause.

“We all saw the images coming out of The Bahamas with the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. Right away, we said that we are all Caribbean people and we felt that this would be an appropriate contribution to make to all the people who have been hit very hard. Jamaica is also prone to these kinds of disaster and when we look at it, The Bahamas are our neighbours, and we always try our best be good neighbours,” said Lawrence.

The annual charity golf tournament was sponsored by Digicel Business, Cable and Wireless Business, FirstCaribbean Bank, VIP Attractions and CPJ.