Golf charity attracts big numbers - All proceeds to furnish Red Stripe's 'Learning for Life' project

More than 80 golfers gathered at the luxurious Tryall Golf Club on Saturday in the name of charity for the Johnnie Walker Learning for Life Golf Classic. At the end of the day, American Rick Lowie was the overall winner with 40 points. Lowie also claimed the 19-28 handicap category.

Murine Blake won the women's 13-28 handicap with 33 points, followed by Marguerite Cremin (26) and Gillian Goodwin (25).

Other winners were William Knibbs (36) 0-6 handicap, Cedric Blair (39) 7-11 handicap and Manu Chadarimani (36) 12-18 handicap.

In the pro section, Peter Horrobin won $80,000 after edging Ainsley Palmer in a play-off, after both men were tied on 76 points, while in the corporate team category, Blair and teammates Dr Carl Bruce, William Knibbs and father Radcliff Knibbs earned 136 points to lift the trophy.

All proceeds from the golf classic go towards Learning for Life, which is a skills-based education programme run by Red Stripe and parent company Diageo. The programme works in conjunction with government agencies and NGOs and offers training to disenfranchised young adults.

Training is focused on four key areas: bartending, entrepreneurship, hospitality and retail. Red Stripe has been running the programme for six years and has trained and graduated more than 10,000 students. The programme is also run globally with approximately 100,000 students having benefited.

"Learning for Life represents Red Stripe's commitment to making a social impact in the communities in which we operate, and the funds raised from the golf classic will go a long way in ensuring we can touch even more lives," said LeVaughn Flynn, Red Stripe's senior communications manager.

"We're very happy with the turnout. Based on feedback, all the golfers thought it was a well-run tournament, and the fact that it's for a worthy cause made it even more special."

One special highlight of the Johnnie Walker Learning for Life Golf Classic was long drive record-holder Maurice Allen on the eighth hole.

Allen, who holds the Guinness World Record for driver ball speed at 211 mph, did exhibition shots for golfers that left them in awe of his strength and accuracy. In aid of the charity, Allen sold his long drive shots for US$50 per person, giving the amateur golfers the chance of a better score.