Rotary Club Estoi Palace International (RCEPI) held its eighth annual prestigious Rotary Charity Golf Tournament on August 27 at the Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, a ‘signature’ Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was a rather different event this year. The tournament was limited to 45 players instead of the usual 80 and, to ensure social distancing, each team of three or four was asked to start play at 15-minute intervals instead of the usual “shotgun” start where all players start at the same time.
Participants were also able to take part in the “Beat the Pro” competition and four players were delighted to achieve this feat.
Despite the restrictions, the day was a success with the team at Monte Rei always on hand to help players.
Event organiser Richard Thorpe from RCEPI said: “It was a great day. Many of the players told me how much they had enjoyed it, so I feel happy that all the hard work by my Rotary colleagues and the Monte Rei team paid off.”
It was not possible to hold the usual award ceremony on the day, so all players were invited to attend a virtual ceremony online which was held one week later.
This year’s winners were:
Men
• 1st place: Alan Blaszkiewicz – 41pts
• 2nd place: Jorge Alonso – 41pts
• 3rd place: João Paulo Rocha – 37pts
Ladies
• 1st place: Varena Kondes – 39pts
• 2nd place: Yarida Kabinpong – 39pts
• 3rd place: Nerea Echevarria – 37pts
The event raised over €4,000, which will support local charities, community as well as international projects. To date, RCEPI has helped fund numerous projects including:
· A refrigerated truck for the Faro Food Bank
· A mobile breast screening unit for the Algarve Oncology Association
· A van to provide mobile lung cancer screening in the Algarve
· Donating wheelchairs to the local community
· Purchasing Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children
· Helping fund a new, fully equipped ambulance for São Brás fire department,
· Financing a local milk programme to help the Faro Food Bank
· Funding crucial wheelchair access
· Funding university education for students
· PPE for staff at Faro Hospital
RCEPI is looking forward to welcoming golfers back to Monte Rei next year when hopefully things will have returned to normal. To participate in the 2021 Charity Golf event, the Club advises golfers to book early to avoid disappointment as places are limited.
