ITWeb's Fourth Annual Technology Golf Day was the most successful to date, raising R110 000 for Kids Haven in Benoni.
Kids Haven is a secure village and educational centre for former street children. Sue Daly, fundraising co-ordinator for Kids Haven, says the money raised will go towards education and will cover the cost of schooling about 16 children for a year.
Sponsored by Softline, the challenge saw 144 players from local IT businesses teeing off at the Glendower Golf Course in Bedfordview on Tuesday.
Other sponsors for the day included DVT, Microsoft, Rentworks, MWeb Business and DataPro.
In an auction, which alone raised R26 000, participants bid for various exclusive items. A signed John Smit centenary rugby jersey went to Lance Rothschild for R6 500. Robert Mace, on behalf of ITWeb, took home a signed and mounted Roger Federer tennis ball, for R7 000. A commemorative painting of a SA vs Australia cricket game, signed by all the Proteas, went to Neil Michelson for R10 000. Anthony Southgate of Internet Solutions bid R2 500 for a weekend stay at Lone Creek River Lodge.
Each of the 18 holes was sponsored by various local businesses, namely Absol, EOH, Fulcrum Business Solutions, Internet Solutions, DigiPoS Systems, Lexmark and McAfee. The sponsors offered refreshments and numerous activities throughout the course.
At the fifth hole, MWeb offered head and shoulder massages to the weary golfers. DVT organised a fundraising game, offering each fourball a mulligan if they could locate a hidden golf ball on the ninth hole green. The hole raised a total of R5 500.
Winners
With a score of 96, the winners of the day were the Fulcrum fourball of Burt van Staade, Andre Wolmarans, Kobus vd Berg and Mike Garzouzie. They walked away with Nike putters.
Tying for second place, with a score of 88, were the Lexmark fourball of Hans Horn, Vicky Maluka, Jabu Shungube and Graham Moshoana, and the Datapro fourball of Tony van Marken, Gary Sweiden, Shane Chorlet and Simon Butler. They each received Agio locker bags.
Other awards included the longest drive, with prizes going to Chris van Niekerk and Steve Doeg; the shortest drive, won by Shaun Philips; the straightest drive, awarded to Rob Wilkie, JP d'Abbauie and Neilius Uys; and the closest to the pin, with prizes going to Danny de Beer, Jarno Loubser, Peter Breytenbach, Brian Harding and Sandra Galbraith.
The various prizes included an iPod, a driving iron and a Tiger Woods PC game. All prizes were courtesy of the events' many sponsors.
The evening function was hosted by radio presenters Darren "Wackhead" Simpson and Graeme Joffe.
The highlight of the evening was a performance by the children from Kids Haven, who kept the room in high spirits with their drumming and gumboot dancing.
For the funniest video moment of the day, click here.
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