The golf car used by Colin Montgomerie during last year’s momentous Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor raised £50,000 in aid of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation invitational event at Wentworth Club on May 23.
The European Team Captain’s distinctive blue car, supplied by Club Car, was snapped up by an anonymous bidder during the event’s auction, which was the key part of a day that raised more than £625,000 for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, supporting Cancer Research UK.
Colin Montgomerie himself was on hand to sign the customised Precedent car, in which he patrolled the fairways of The Celtic Manor Resort en route to an historic European victory.
Among the items auctioned were a Rolex wristwatch once owned by Ballesteros and a gold replica of the Ping putter used by the Spaniard to win The Open Championship at St Andrews in 1984.
The Club Car vehicle had originally been bought by Club Car’s West of England and Wales distributor – Tractor Hire Ltd, part of the Cardiff-based Ted Hopkins Group – which managed the supply of Club Car vehicles to the Ryder Cup.
Chris Hopkins of the Ted Hopkins Group said: “We bought the European Team Captain’s Club Car with a view to it being auctioned for charity after the Ryder Cup, so the Olé Seve! event was a fitting opportunity.
“It was marvellous that the car sold for £50,000 and it was a very generous gesture on the part of the buyer.”
Mr Hopkins added: “We still have the US Team Captain’s car, and we’re considering our options.”
Club Car www.clubcar.com