Detry wins Worplesdon Charity Pro-Am; Fundraising continues 

Thomas Detry claimed a one stroke victory during the Charity Pro-Am at Worplesdon Golf Club organised by Paul Waring and Andy Sullivan, with fundraising efforts set to continue for another week.

The Covid-19 pandemic may have paused professional golf, but several European Tour members and their caddies have been using their time off for good, organising efforts to raise money for a variety of charities.

On Thursday, European Tour winners Andy Sullivan and Paul Waring became the latest players to spearhead a fundraising initiative with a Charity Pro-Am at Worplesdon Golf Club, organised in aid of Dan’s Fund for Burns, who provide support to people with burns, and the Rainbow Trust’s Covid-19 Emergency Appeal, which support seriously ill children and their families.

Running in association with the golf day, which drew a host of European Tour, Staysure Tour and Ladies European Tour stars, were a Silent Auction and a Raffle, which remain open for entries, bids and donations until July 3.

Both the Silent Auction and Raffle feature rounds of golf, equipment and memorabilia as prizes, with all proceeds split equally between the two charities.

The Pro-Am was sponsored by Waring and Sullivan’s management group Wasserman, who helped put the event together after the English duo decided to turn their original idea of a golf day for professionals into a tournament that would benefit two charities.

 “We saw that recreational golf would be back before tournament golf, so we had an idea of putting on a little tournament between us all,” Waring explained on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast ahead of the event.

“But then we thought we (could) do it for charity, do a Pro-Am. We started looking into it, and our management company at Wasserman helped us develop the idea.”

Speaking about the charities they chose to support, Sullivan explained that one of the causes is particularly important to him.

“Dan’s Fund for Burns is close to my heart,” said Sullivan. “My friends have been involved in that charity with their child and they’ve done a fantastic job (for them). Rainbow Trust’s Covid-19 emergency appeal helps families as well, recovering from Covid.

“Yes we want to go out and play competitive golf but if we can go out there and for charities to benefit from that, it’s all the better and helps everyone out.”

The day featured a number of leading professionals from the European Tour, Staysure Tour and Ladies European Tour, including Paul Broadhurst, Thomas Detry, Ross Fisher, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Slattery, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, who went on to play in the Rose Ladies Series event at Moor Park Golf Club later that afternoon.

It was Detry who took home the spoils in superb conditions with a seven under par round of 65 at Worplesdon , beating nearest challengers Steven Brown, Sam Broadhurst and Jake Brurnage by a stroke.

As for the hosts, Sullivan carded a respectable one under 70, while Waring was forced out of the tournament with a back injury.