On Sunday, July 29th, the Premier’s Cup 2007 added to its amazing track record by raising $66,000 to be split evenly between The TCI National Kidney Foundation and the Turks & Caicos Drug Prevention Foundation. This brings its four year total to over $200,000 raised for Local Charities. An auction was also held following the Prize & Awards Ceremony and this additional amount will be added to the $66,000 and donated to both charities. This amount will be announced at a later date.

The event which featured very competitive golf, and a fun filled social climate was enjoyed by 100 golfers in this unique 18 hole Scramble format. Premier Michael Misick was on hand at the prize presentation to hand over the cheques to the two very worthwhile Charities. The Premier was impressed again this year with the outstanding performance of his Committee lead by President Chuck Musgrove as the event was considered by many as the best ever at Provo Golf Club. All of the participants thoroughly enjoyed the excellent golf conditions, the camaraderie, and the well planned social festivities.

The Gross Scramble format saw players divided by skill level with a blind draw establishing the teams. The Provo Golf Club featured very fast, smooth, greens and the hot weather conditions added to the challenge of the highly ranked course. Play was extremely competitive as the top of the leader board saw 6 teams finishing within only two strokes.

Many of the participants were from outside the Turks and Caicos in the full field of 100 golfers which comprised of 25 teams. Two teams tied for first at 5 under par 67 and an exciting playoff ensued with Honourable Shane Gibson’s team outlasting Kent Soukup’s team in a pressure packed playoff on the 18th hole in front of a large gallery. Honourable Gibson, a low handicap golfer, from The Bahamas had the good fortune of selecting Jared Fulton’s huge drive off the 18th tee. Mervin Cox then hit an excellent approach shot to within 14 feet of the pin and Jared Fulton calmly putted the ball up to within a foot of the hole and then tapped in for a routine par to outlast Kent Soukup’s team and claim the championship.

The Results are found below!

The Premier’s Cup 2007 Leader board

1st Place. Hon. Shane Gibson, Mervin Cox, Jared Fulton, Ray Drurie (67)

2nd Place. Kent Soukup, David Tait, Desmond Williams, Terry Drummey (67)

3rd Place. Jumphol Srinark, Don Gardiner, Mackey Missick, John Flanigan (68)

4th Place. Rico Rolle, Bob Graham, Bob Ellingson-Lewis, Gillian Miller (68)

Closest to the pin winners included Rahul Lakhani, Ray Drurie, James Slattery, and Sean Sullivan. In fact Sean Sullivan grazed the hole on his shot at the Jaguar car, hole in one prize, put up on the 4th hole by Mac Motors adding great excitement to the day. Long drive champs were claimed by Sean Sullivan and Sarah Haywood on the 18th hole.

The President, Chuck Musgrove, of the Premier’s Cup Committee was extremely happy with the event. The Committee consisted of Lesley Cooke, Althea Williams, Gordon Burton, Kim Gillett, Tyrone Williams, and Sarah Haywood who all did a fantastic job and were delighted with the record $66,000 raised for the two noteworthy Charities of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

All of the committee, volunteers, sponsors, Provo Golf Club staff and participants should be commended for an outstanding event. Many local companies came to the fore front by supporting in a myriad of ways. A special thank you to the beverage sponsor, HERZOG, who kept everyone well hydrated on this particularly hot July day.

The Premier and his Committee are already looking forward to next year’s Annual Showcase Event with the Charity to be announced before the beginning of 2008.