AMERICAN Rick Lowie walked away as the overall champ at the Johnnie Walker Learning for Life Golf Classic held at the picturesque Tryall Golf Club on the weekend.

Lowie amassed 40 points in the men’s 19-28 handicap category, winning for himself a combination of prizes including champion’s trophy, golf bag, a Samsung tablet and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

Just behind him was Red Stripe’s managing director Cedric Blair with 39 points in the 7-11 handicap category. Blair’s team, including Dr Carl Bruce and the father-son duo of William Knibbs and Radcliff Knibbs, won the team competition with a total of 136 points.

In the pro section, Peter Horrobin got the better of Ainsley Palmer, edging him in a play-off after both men were dead even on 76 points.

One of the many highlights of the tournament was the appearance of professional long drive competitor Maurice Allen. Allen holds the Guinness World Record for driver ball speed at 211 mph and has one of the longest recorded drive distances at 453 yards. Allen wowed golfers as they came by the eighth hole as he displayed his skill and strength. In the name of charity, Allen sold a long drive to golfers for US$50, giving them a better chance of a birdie on the

ninth hole.

The charity golf tournament was a fundraiser for Red Stripe’s skills education programme — Diageo Learning for Life. Over the past six years, the programme has trained and graduated over 10,000 students in the areas of entrepreneurship, hospitality, retail and bartending. Globally, more than 100,000 young adults have benefited from the programme.

LeVaughn Flynn,

Red Stripe’s senior communications manager, said the tournament was a huge success that has equipped Learning for Life to continue positively impacting lives.

“We’re immensely happy with the turnout of the Golf Classic. It was two great days of golf all centred around raising money for a programme that directly impacts some of Jamaica’s most vulnerable and neediest young adults,” said Flynn.

He added that monies were generated through registration fees, sponsorships, Allen’s long drives and an auction.

“I have to say a big thank you to all the sponsors and golfers that came onboard. It would not have been possible if they did not share our passion for transforming lives through Learning for Life.”