Burapha Golf Club was the venue for the Ken Doherty Snooker Legends golf day on Saturday 5th September. 72 golfers teed off from a shotgun start playing in a 2-person Texas team scramble format. The event was well attended by golfers from within Thailand and also overseas visitors.
The winners of the tournament were James Burns and Jack Munro from the UK with a fine net score of 63. They won a signed snooker cue each and a golf holiday to Siem Reap in Cambodia. When they were presented with their prizes they generously donated the holiday to the charity auction that followed.
Snooker stars Jimmy White (far left), Ken Doherty (2nd right) and Joe Swail (far right) pose on stage at the Tavern By The Sea, Amari Pattaya with Derek Franklin (2nd left) and children from the Father Ray Foundation, Saturday, Sept. 5.
The celebrity golf day was supported by some great sponsors – Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sapphire Club, Amari Hotels, Angkor Wat Golf and the Pattaya Sports Club. In addition to the main sponsors, a number of holes also had prizes up for grabs that were generously donated by SetForeHire, Champagne a Go Go, Burapha Golf Club, Sapphire Club, Rotary Club, and Graeme Newport and John McKillop. A combination of the support from the sponsors, charity auction and personal donations raised over 300,000 baht for the Father Ray Foundation Education Fund.
(From left) Ken Doherty, Jimmy White, TAT Director Tanes Petsuwan and Joe Swail pose on the first tee at Burapha Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 5.
Former snooker world champion Ken Doherty partnered Tanes Petsuwan, the TAT Director for Europe, African and Middle East while Irish champion Joe Swail teamed up with Brendan Daly, General Manager of the Amari Hotel Pattaya. The other celebrity player, Jimmy White, teed off with a group of golf visitors from the UK. All the celebrities returned respectable scores.
Sponsored hole prizes were won by Mark Newis, Brendan Daly, Justin Naro, Keith Hamilton, Martin Grimoldby and Nick Batley. The prize for the worst net score was won by Bente Giljarhus and Arno Pechtl who won a course of golf lessons donated by TPR Golf Academy and lunch at the Hilton, generously hosted by George Wilson from the Rotary.
Tournament winners James Burns and Jack Munro receive prize autographed cues from the three snooker legends.
After golf the players, guests and sponsors enjoyed an international buffet at the Tavern By The Sea at the Amari Pattaya. The MC for the evening, Paul Strachan, introduced all the prize winners who then collected their awards from Ken, Joe and Jimmy on the stage following which, musical entertainment was provided by the Amari house band.
The highlight of the proceedings was a heart-warming speech by Derek Franklin as he introduced children from the Father Ray Foundation on stage and told the audience about each child’s background.
Ken Doherty (left) donated a signed Manchester United shirt for the charity auction.
Following the presentations, Derek Kane took over the microphone for the much anticipated auction of gifts and sports memorabilia. Ken Doherty kindly donated a team shirt signed by famous Manchester United players from the past. This item alone raised 34,000 baht when it was bought by Niall from Sapphire Club. Other items included framed golf and football memorabilia, great vouchers from the Amari and many donations from local businesses in Pattaya. The Cambodia golf holiday that was won by James and Jack raised 12,000 baht for the charity.
Ken, Jimmy and Joe are already committed to making the event even bigger and better in 2016 when they return to Thailand to support their favourite charity.
PSC President Peter Malhotra (2nd left) and PSC Charity & Community Service Chairperson, Noi Emmerson (4th left), present a cheque for 25,000 baht on behalf of the Pattaya Sports Club to add to the day’s fund-raising kitty.
Jimmy White, representing the celebrity snooker players, accepts a plaque of appreciation from the Fr. Ray Foundation children.
Brendan Daly, General Manager of the Amari Hotel Pattaya (left) presents prizes to a happy golfer.
