The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative continued at the Portugal Masters, with an additional €50,000 raised for three charities through money pledged for every birdie, eagle and albatross made on the par five 17th hole at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.
A total of €872,819 has been shared amongst local, national, and international charitable causes in the eight weeks since the #GolfForGood initiative - which will underpin the remainder of the 2020 Race to Dubai season - launched at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House in July.
Tournament partner Vilamoura World and the European Tour teamed up to pledge €200 for the charitable fund for every birdie on the 588-yard 17th hole, an additional €500 per eagle and €1000 for any albatross. In total there were 138 birdies, 13 eagles and an albatross from Shubhankar Sharma, to bring the total to €35,100.
With Vilamoura World and European Tour each topping up their respective pledges to €25,000 to bring the total up to €50,000, Existir, APEXA and EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) will each benefit from €16,666.
The three charities receiving a share of the €50,000 are:
· Existir, a Loule based charity which has been active for over 25 years and supports people and families in need throughout the region (nominated by Vilamoura World)
· APEXA, whose mission is to promote the inclusion of people with and without disabilities in the Algarve in the areas of health, rehabilitation, leisure, sport, education, training and work (nominated by Turismo de Portugal)
· EDGA, a not-for-profit, volunteer organisation, active in the promotion and delivery of opportunities to sample, participate and compete in golf (nominated by the European Tour)
In addition to the funds raised at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, range balls from the Portugal Masters will be donated to Vilamoura Golf Club, a local venue which has famously helped to develop the careers of many Portuguese professionals, including Ricardo Gouveia and Ricardo Santos, both of whom were in the field for their home event.
Peter Adams, Championship Director of the Portugal Masters, said: “We are delighted to have been able to continue the success of the Golf for Good initiative at the Portugal Masters, in conjunction with our partners Vilamoura World.
“Existir and APEXA, who do fantastic work in the local area, and EDGA, who provide opportunities for disabled golfers across Portugal, will receive vital funds thanks to the players’ form on the lengthy 17th hole. We’re also pleased to be able to donate range balls used by the professionals to help Vilamoura Golf Club continue its record of developing the careers of Portuguese stars of the future.”
The ‘Golf for Good’ initiative aims to give back in three key areas:
▪ supporting the communities where the European Tour plays;
▪ rewarding the true heroes, such as front-line workers; and
▪ promoting the many health benefits that golf offers.
