More than 140 players helped raise funds for the Special Olympics in the Cayman Islands, by taking part in the Eric Crutchley Annual  Golf Tournament at the North Sound Golf Club.

Special Olympics Fundraising Director, Vanessa Hansen, explained the origins of the tournament.

“Eric Crutchley was involved in Special Olympics for more than 20 years, and more recently was the Chairman of Special Olympics. He passed away last year, so we lost someone who was very dedicated to the athletes, so we decided to do this memorial tournament in his honour, just to remember him and it is going to be an annual event.

“It is also a major fundraiser for Special Olympics. Our operating budget is around C$100,000 for the year and we depend on fundraising and donations to actually make that all happen for the athletes,” she said.

Individuals taking part in one of more than 30 separate teams, each paid a CI$100 registration fee with the money going towards Special Olympics in the Cayman Islands.

The money would be put to good use, Ms Hansen said:  “I think one of the things that is so important about Special Olympics is that it’s a very holistic approach to giving opportunity to people with intellectual disabilities – there’s leadership training and there’s health screening involved, along with the year-long training that takes place, and we have our national games every year as well.

One of Eric Crutchley’s sons, Jonathan Crutchley had flown from his home in New York, especially for the golf tournament. He is used to coming to the Cayman Islands to visit his father during his father’s illness.  “I work in health care so I was involved in Dad’s treatment a lot. I teed off this morning. I had to give it a bit of a try.” he said.

1st Place – Team Extreme, perpetual Waterford trophy donated by Kirk Freeport, each team member received crystal wine glasses

2nd Place – Team Digicel 2, each team member received bone china coffee mugs

3rd Place – The Usual Suspects, each team member received bone china coffee mugs

Worst Team was the Chairman’s Dream Team led by SOCI Chairman Nick Freeland and they got a round of golf at Britannia (to practice)

Closest to the Pin:

#1 Isabel Lawson:

Cracked Conch Gift Certificate $100

#5 Dilys Anderson :

Agua Gift Certificate $100

#9 Derek Jones:

Dolce Vita Gift Certificate $100

#11 Robert Ebanks:

Wine Down Gift Certificate $100

Longest Drive # 12

Men – Marchello Scuti – Scotty Cameron Putter – donated by SRS Cayman

Ladies – Isabel Lawson – Rossa Corba Ghost Putter – donated by SRS Cayman

Most Accurate drive – Seamus Tivnan – Taylor Made 60 degree wedge donated by SRS Cayman