Non-stop golf earns over £8K for charity

Jason Evans, Mark Colley, Ian Hardy, Brian Johnson, Michael McAlister, Andrew Bland, James Ward and Neil McManus astounded members at Dewsbury and District Golf Club with their endurance challenge.

The team played 184 rounds between them, completing 3,312 holes and walking more than 90 miles in the process.

And their efforts have helped to raise more than £8,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Organiser Mr Evans, 41, said: “The challenges were exhaustion, aches and paint, trying to concentrate.

“The highs were that we all finished it and it was an experience playing right through the night, especially when the full moon came out about 3am.”

The golfathon began at 4pm on Wednesday June 15 when Leeds Rhinos players Danny Maguire, Lee Smith and Luke Burgess joined the fundraisers to tee off.

The team of eight then played throughout the night with support round-the-clock from Mirfield Scouts, who provided food and drinks for the fundraisers.

Foundation learning students from Kirklees College also lent their support by acting as caddies and running a putting challenge on the 13th tee to raise additional funds.

At 4pm the next day, supporters cheered on the team as they played their final shots.

Mr Evans said: “There were about 50 people with us for the last hole. It was weird when we finished because I was ready to go again! It was an experience I’ll never forget.”

Club general manager Mick Thorpe said the efforts of the players and everyone involved had been incredible.

“With only stops for food and toilet breaks, they could be seen out on the hills even through the dark night hours using flashing fluorescent golf balls,” he said.

“Everyone at the club sends a massive well done to them all.”

Mr Evans, who lives in Mirfield, said the players had originally hoped to raise £2,000, but were now on course to raise more than £8,000.

He said: “Everybody is over the moon and we’d just like to say a massive thank you to everybody who supported us, donated and helped us.

“It’s nice to see everyone coming together for a good cause.”

Donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/golfathon24.