ORGANISERS of the Couples Resorts Ocho Rios Charity Golf Tournament will be hoping to raise close to $2 million as several of the island’s top amateurs face off in fierce competition, all while offering their contribution to the event’s efforts towards developing community projects.

The proceeds from this tournament will be used towards several charitable causes, namely the installation of a new perimeter fence at Three Hills Primary school; as well as donations towards refurbishing projects at Hamilton Mountain Basic School, Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the St Ann Spay Day programme, which is a non-profit that helps low-income families spay and netuer their pets.

The par-71 Sandals Golf and Country Club course in Upton, St Mary, will play host, with action expected to get started with a 9:00 am Shotgun Start. The tournament will be contested in the two-man scramble format.

Tournament Director Sebert Walker, who is also the pro at Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, is expecting at least 70 golfers to descend on the course in what he described as the local golf community’s continued show of support and impact on charity efforts at the community level.

“There are two events that Couples run throughout the year. This time of the year there is a charity tournament in Ocho Rios and in October there is another in Negril. They have been covering a lot of charity organistions that need help, and the Couples Foundation has been very active in making sure that they offer support and help these organisations in need, so that’s what these charity golf tournaments are all about,” Walker explained.

“It’s always a well-supported tournament; we should have at least 70 or more players. The golf family always turns up for these sorts of events and always offers its support towards helping others; and Couples tournaments also offer some atttrcative prizes and is well-run so we are expecting a good turnout,” Walker added.

“Golf is like a family setting. Once you start playing golf in Jamaica, for instance, it’s a small community and everyone pretty much knows everyone. Also, as golfers we take it as something that we look forward to doing — in terms of not just playing and enjoying the game but also seeing how we can interact and lift up other persons — so it’s almost like something that every golfer, when they hear it’s a charity event, they are ready to make that effort to support it. The golfing community is always willing and ready to help in any way possible,” said Walker.

Oshane Haye, one half of the two-time defending champions, will be without his usual partner Zandre Roye this weekend as the latter is on national duty at the Latin America Amateur Golf Championships at Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires. But the home course standout is expected to feature heavily, as well as other big names such as serial tournament winner Sean Morris and Jodi Munn-Barrow, the president of Jamaica Golf Association.

“We are definitely expecting most of the top amateurs to come out and play. From what I understand, the course is in very good shape and we are looking forward to some really good competition,” Walker shared.

The tournament is being sponsored by National Commercial Bank, Iron Rock, Guardian Group, VIP Attractions, Advantage General, BCIC, ICWI, as well as Fraser Fontaine and Kong.

Oshane Haye (left), one half of last year’s winning pair at the Couples Resorts Ocho Rios Charity Golf Tournament, will compete at the event today. Haye is seen here alongside Chief Executive Officer Wayne Williams (right) and his usual partner Zandre Roye at Sandals Golf and Country Club in St Ann in 2024. Roye is overseas on national duty and will miss the competition.