The two Official Charities for the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open today gave a huge ‘thumbs up’ to the performances of Scot Peter Whiteford and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalaz for helping to swell the funds raised from this week’s event at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Children’s Hospice Association of Scotland (CHAS) and Befrienders Highland are being supported through two initiatives surrounding the Championship near Inverness, firstly the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Birdie Pledge which sees funds donated by both Aberdeen and the charitable arm of the European Tour, The Tour Players Foundation (TPF) for each birdie, eagle and albatross made by the players on course - a total of £10, £20 and £50 respectively.
Gonzalez, who put himself in contention for the title with a superb round of 64 in perfect conditions on the Moray Firth, conjured up seven birdies and one eagle which, through the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Birdie Pledge, delivering a healthy boost to today’s Birdie Pledge total.
Whiteford also contributed six birdies and a very special eagle to the pot with a spectacular hole in one at the 168 yard 11thhole, where 24 hours earlier Englishman Andrew Johnston had also holed out with his eight iron for a timely ace.
In recognition of those outstanding achievements, Aberdeen and TPF, make a special to contribution of a further £168 each – or £1 for each yard of the 11thhole – to the overall Birdie Pledge total which has surpassed £12,000 already.
Whiteford, who won a Jeroboam of Laurent Perrier champagne for his ace, joked: “That’s the second hole in one I’ve had as a professional – the other time was on the Challenge Tour – and I haven’t won the major prize yet! I hit a nice soft seven iron into the wind and somehow willed the ball into the hole.
“I am delighted that my eagle earned £20 for the charities involved in the tournament and that the TPF and Aberdeen Asset management also contributed an additional £168.”
Gonzalez added; “I am a very keen supporter of charitable work at home in Argentina and also on The European Tour. It’s good to know that my seven birdies and eagle today can help other people through the two tournament charities.”
Secondly, the spectating public are able to show their support of both charities when they receive an Official Drawsheet by making discretionary donation of £1. The donations from the public will continue over the reminder of the week and adding greatly to the ‘Grand Total’ that will be shared equally by CHAS and Befrienders Highland enabling the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open to have a positive charitable impact on the Inverness and Highland region.
