The Saint Lucia Kings have packed up their kit and bid farewell to the home leg of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), but national hero and Kings head coach Daren Sammy switched out cricket gear for golf clubs, teeing up for Saint Lucian youth with his latest charity golf tournament at Sandals Golf & Country Club in Cap Estate.
The fifth annual Fairways Golf Tournament brought out 57 local and regional golfers, including former international cricketers and cricket commentators. Together, they raised approximately EC$78,000 for the Daren Sammy Foundation (DSF).
With dozens of DSF scholarship recipients preparing to return to school in the coming days, the tournament was timely. The foundation seeks to drive youth development through sports and education across the island.
Samuel Richelieu and Gordon Julien copped top honours in the team standings with a stellar -13 net score of 58, edging out Bertrand Johannes and Keymanie Thomas. The twosome took second on the same net total of 58. Andrew McHale and Kenneth Mathurin finished third, also posting a net 58. Mario Reyes and Peter Joe Devaux claimed fourth with a net 59, and Henix Joseph alongside Dharmendra Shah completed the top five with a net 60.
Individual flair was on full display in the speciality skill challenges. Winston Charles launched a bomb and claimed the male Longest Drive award, with Kimberly John earning the female Longest Drive title. Chris Owen and Remy Smith were Closest to the Pin for men, with Jenifer Mendes winning for the women.
The event featured CPL CEO Pete Russell, former West Indies skipper Daren Ganga, South African internationals Quinton de Kock and George Linde, former Irish international Niall O’Brien, sports presenter Alex Jordan, and Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association President Wayne Baptiste.
