Søren Kjeldsen and Thongchai Jaidee took time out from their busy schedules at The Grove this week ahead of the 2016 British Masters supported by Sky Sports, to present a cheque for €100,000 to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation (SBF).
The SBF was the Official Charity of the 2016 EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM, a biennial competition which pitted some of Europe’s best golfers against their Asian counterparts at the Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in Malaysia last January.
In an enthralling battle, the visitors went on to record a comprehensive 18½-5½ win as they lifted the trophy for the first time after the inaugural event ended in a 10-10 tie two years ago.
Such was the strength of the field, six members of the EurAsia Cup Team Europe side were part of The 2016 Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine National including Lee Westwood, Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood, Danny Willett, Matthew Fitzpatrick, and Ian Poulter as a vice captain.
“On behalf of my brothers, Javier and Miguel, and myself, I’d like to pass on my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the EurAsia Cup and to those who were able to raise such a significant amount of money for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation,” Carmen Ballesteros said as she received the cheque for €100,000 on behalf of her father’s foundation.
“The EurAsia Cup has become a real highlight on the calendar for golf fans in in Europe, Asia and across the globe. I know my father would have embraced the competitive spirit of the tournament, it always brought him joy to represent Europe in any form during his golfing career.”
SBF President Javier Ballesteros said: “I would like to thank everyone involved with the EurAsia Cup for their generous support to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.”
“Your donation helps fund the Seve Ballesteros Foundation laboratory at the National Cancer Research Centre in Spain. Thanks to your support Massimo Squatrito, head of the brain tumour group, and his team, are doing research on malignant brain tumours. Their work will certainly contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism which triggers the tumour formation in the central nervous system, as well as improving specific therapeutic procedures.
“In 2015, the SBF held The Desafío, a series of charity golf events played at 30 golf courses across Spain. The winning pair were invited to participate in the Pro-Am of the EurAsia Cup last January, and enjoyed a fabulous week at the event in Malaysia.
“My father would be proud to see the continued support of the work of his Foundation from the European and Asian Tours by way of the EurAsia Cup”.
EurAsia Cup Director Charlie Tingey was delighted to again support the SBF, after the first edition of the event raised €100,000 in 2014.
“It’s fantastic to contribute to a cause so dear to our hearts in golf. The Seve Ballesteros Foundation work incredibly hard to help people from all over the world, and we are very proud to contribute €200,000 from the past two EurAsia Cup tournaments,” he said.
“Not only did we have a number of Team Europe players competing at the event who formed part of The Ryder Cup team this year, but we had some of Asia’s leading golfers, who have since gone on to claim a number of European Tour titles this year.”
Part of Team Asia, S.S.P Chawrasia won the Hero Indian Open in March, Jeunghun Wang produced back-to-back victories at the Trophée Hassan II and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in May, Wu Ashun was triumphant in Austria at the Lyoness Open powered by Sporthilfe Cashback Card a month later, and Jaidee claimed the 100th Open de France title in July.
The SBF was set up in 2009, with the commitment to contribute to the advancement of science for the benefit of those suffering from brain tumours. The Foundation raises money for scientific research with the aim of helping to cure brain cancer, working with some of the best scientists and institutes in the world.
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