|
The Lily Foundation Trophy
 Practice day for the 2008 European Fathers and Sons Championship was also the occasion for an individual stableford competition over the PortAventura North Course in aid of The Lily Foundation, raising money for research into Mitochondrial disease and other metabolic disorders.
On a day that began cold, windy and wet, each father and son team played together, but keeping individual scores. Conditions improved somewhat as the charity day went on, but early starters had to contend with Greg Norman's championship layout in distinctly uncharitable mood.
|
Lee Inman, winner of the Lily Foundation Trophy with 41 stableford points |
The excellent winning score of 41 points off a six-handicap was brought home by Lee Inman from Bourn Golf Club in Cambridgeshire. In some of the worst of the weather, he reeled off six straight pars, followed by two birdies, including a "monstrous" putt at the 8th. Coming to the 16th tee Lee was 3 under par, but a bogey and double-bogey on 16 and 17 pulled him back, and he did well to rally with a closing par for a round of gross 71.
"I'm delighted," he said afterwards, from the warmth of the clubhouse, "you don't come here expecting to win anything."
|
'Team Lily' (L to R: Tim Tandy, David Bailey and Rick Milton) present the Trophy to Lee Inman |
On hand to present the trophy to Lee were three members of the Lily Foundation committee, Tim Tandy, Rick Milton and David Bailey, and they were later joined by the Foundation's president and Lily's grandfather Paul Curtis. Keen golfers all, they stayed on and played for the full duration of the Father and Son Championship as non-competing guests.
 |
About the Lily Foundation
 Lily Anna Merritt was a beautiful little girl who at birth was considered "small but healthy", but at eight weeks old was given only days to live when doctors diagnosed Mitochondrial disease.
Despite this she fought valiantly for eight months, but finally lost her battle, weighing just a few pounds. Little is known about the disease which may affect as many as one in a thousand births; many victims of it are attributed to "cot death", placing enormous strain on parents who suffer a lifetime of guilt as a result.
Mitochondria are the 'powerhouse' within each human cell, reponsible for converting the energy in food into energy that the body can use to grow and work. Without mitochondria cells cannot generate enough energy to sustain normal organ function, and their dysfunction can also contribute to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart, liver and kidney disease and strokes, as well as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The disease is currently incurable, and funds for research, training and treatment facilities are badly needed to improve diagnosis and work towards a cure.
You can find out more about Lily, The Foundation and Mitochondrial disease, and make a donation at www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk.
|
The day's sweep raised the sum of €500 for the Foundation, and this amount was very generously matched by Phil Taylor, professional at Pachesham Park Golf Centre in Surrey. A further sum of €670 was raised during the event's closing Gala Dinner, thanks to an auction in which participant John Mansell oubid his fellow competitors for a three day holiday at PortAventura, donated by Tournament Director Toby Marsden of UK School of Golf.
Leading scores (individual stableford): 1 Lee Inman - 41 points
2 Robert Mackay - 38 points
3 Brian lever - 36 points
4 Steven Cooper - 34 points
5 Andy Tremlett - 33 points
6 Robert Doley - 32 points
6 Tomas Vecera - 32 points
8 Callum Doley - 31 points
8 Connor Hamilton - 31 points
8 Phil Taylor - 31 points
8 Ben Taylor - 31 points
8 Terry Nightingale - 31 points
13 J-P Heino - 30 points
13 George Mackay - 30 points
13 Martin Hamilton - 30 points
Click here for more pictures of the day's play
November 2, 2008
|
del.icio.us
digg
reddit
stumbleupon
facebook
google
What are these 
Email This Page
