All eyes were on Praslin last week, the second largest island in Seychelles, for the 3rd edition of the MCB Tour Championship.
Players, comprising of celebrities and seasoned golfers, set their course to Constance Lemuria, Seychelles, where the MCB Tour Championship Seychelles was played from Friday, 2nd to Sunday, 4th December 2022.
In addition to the professional tournament, this year’s programme had a more elaborate calendar featuring two rounds of Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday, 30th November and Thursday, 1st November, which was played alongside the final of the Wapp Celebrity Series.
The Grand Finale included 10 celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment, all playing to raise awareness and funds for a cause dear to their hearts. After two days of intense competition playing 36 holes, it was retired Celtic goalkeeper Patrick ‘Packie’ Bonner who took the 2022 title home to Ireland. He won £25,000 for his Amyloidosis Research Fund – a condition in which amyloid (abnormal) proteins build up on organs like the heart, kidney and liver.
Mr Bonner was followed by Formula 1 World champion Damon Hill, winning £15,000 for the HALOW project, a charity that creates opportunities and support for young people with learning disabilities and South African Cricketer Barry Richard in 3rd place, winning £12,000 for the Ingrid Diesel Scholarship for girls. The remaining seven players on the tour did not leave empty-handed as they took to the charity of their choice a share of the remaining £48,000 of the grand prize.
Speaking at the event, the Director General for Destination Marketing, Mrs Bernadette Willemin, expressed her satisfaction to have seen yet another successful event.
“It has been an honour to host the MCB Tour Championship Seychelles again this year. We are honoured that the Wapp Celebrity Series was part of the event as well. The line-up of celebrities invited to play was amazing. They have unanimously conveyed their delight to be in Seychelles and their admiration for our pristine islands. We are happy to have inspired their mission and game equally and look forward to other editions to come,” she said.
The Wapp Celebrity Series is one of the prestigious events held by Legends Tours, making its first appearance in Seychelles. The first event was launched in 2021 and concluded in Mauritius, where Irish Singer, Keith Duffy won the title.
While in Seychelles, the celebrities also participated in two community events on Friday, 2nd, November on Mahé and Praslin.
Keith Duffy and Damon Hill shared their experience parenting special needs children with families and carers of autistic children at the Autism Centre on North Est Point on Mahé.
While former footballers, namely Robbie Fowler, Roberto Di Matteo, Packie Bonner and Gianfranco Zola, participated in a football clinic at the Amitié Stadium on Praslin, where some 40 boys and girls playing in various clubs from Mahe, Praslin and La Digue participated. The young football enthusiasts also had a chance to participate in a draw and to win one of the 12 signed original jerseys – signed by the four celebrities.
The side events were organised by the main partners of the 2022 MCB Tour Championship Seychelles event, which includes MCB Seychelles, Constance Hotels and Tourism Seychelles and were a collaboration with the Seychelles Football Federation, National Sports Council and the Autism Association of Seychelles.
