Gary Player - The Legend

Nelson Mandela Invitational, Presented by Coca-Cola, Hosted by Gary Player, A Huge Success

Nov 18, 2003 | Filed Under: The Player Foundation   

The Nelson Mandela Invitational golf tournament strengthened its status as South Africa ‘s number one sporting charity event by raising well over R2-million over the weekend at Arabella Country Estate.

The figure (R2,212,000 to be more precise) brings the amount raised by the event since its inception in 2000 to well over R7-million - the total split between the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Gary Player Foundation.

Close to R500,000 was raised at the Friday night auction alone, when several highly desirable items went under the hammer of former Springbok rugby player turned professional auctioneer, Christian Stewart.

Former NASCAR champion Danny Sullivan splashed out R100,000 for The Nelson Mandela Struggle Series, an original artwork by the former president, who helicoptered in on Sunday to play the leading role in the awards ceremony.

American businessman Hugh Connerty dug deep also to the tune of R100,000 for a Mandela painting entitled Bar and Key. Carl Ware, a retired former Coca-Cola executive from Atlanta and a long-time friend of the NMI paid R80,000 for a signed Muhammad Ali boxing glove.

Further substantial amounts were raised by a silent auction which ran throughout the weekend and from the businessmen who each paid US $25,000 for the privilege of joining the exclusive field.

A further US $35,000 was raised on Sunday when seven of the eight four-balls posted a better alliance score than the celebrity team headed by Jack Nicklaus , who arrived in the morning to play a part in the event. The four-ball, completed by South African professional Chris Davison, Sunshine Tour chairman Johann Rupert and businessman Dave King, had pledged to donate US $5,000 for every team that beat their score.

Westwood and Hobday triumphant at this year’s event

Englishman Lee Westwood added a third title to his remarkable comeback year as he and senior pro playing partner Simon Hobday came from behind to claim the fourth Nelson Mandela Invitational at Arabella on Sunday.

Westwood and Hobday combined four a better-ball round of 64 to finish at 15 under par for the tournament, two shots clear of overnight leaders Tim Clark and Hugh Baoicchi . The team of Scot Andrew Coltart and John Mashego were a shot further back in third place.

The winners were presented with their trophy by former president Mandela who flew in by helicopter to meet the players and play the central role in the awards ceremony.

Team Cark, with supermodel Jodie Kidd and Coca-Cola president for Southern and East Africa Doug Jackson and Team Coltart , completed by Hollywood hard-man Samuel L. Jackson and Coca-Cola executive Zanosi Kunene, tied for second at 20 under par.

A very special shot of the day came from veteran South African campaigner John Bland, who claimed a hole-in-one at the tough 14th, holing out with a driving iron from 179 meters .

RESULTS: FINAL ROUND 16 NOVEMBER 2003

RESULT: BETTERBALL MEDAL COMPETITION (Regular professional, senior professional)

  (-15) Lee Westwood, Simon Hobday
  (-13) Tim Clark, Hugh Baiocchi
  (-12) Andrew Coltart , John Mashego
  (-11) Omar Sandys , John Bland
  (-10) Hennie Otto, John Fourie
  (-8) Charl Schwartzel , Gary Player
  (-6) Richard Sterne , Vincent Tshabalala
  (-4) Irvin Mosate , Bob Charles

RESULT: FOURBALL ALLIANCE MEDAL (Regular professional, senior professional, celebrity, businessman)

  (-33) Lee Westwood, Simon Hobday , Mark Boucher, Carl Ware
  (-20) Andrew Coltart , John Mashego , Samuel L Jackson, Zanosi Kunene
  (-20) Tim Clark, Hugh Baiocchi , Jodie Kidd, Doug Jackson
  (-16) Omar Sandys , John Bland, Danny Sullivan, Hugh Connerty
  (-14) Hennie Otto, John Fourie , Alec Stewart, Ross Calder
  (-11) Richard Sterne , Vincent Tshabalala , Leonard Thomas, Thomas Steinmetz
  (-11) Charl Schwartzel , Gary Player, Bob Skinstad , Peter Vundla
  (-9) Irvin Mosate , Bob Charles, Barry Richards, Peter Hughes
  (-5) Chris Davison, Jack Nicklaus , Johann Rupert, Dave King

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