Rena Lalgie will be among those competing for a worthy cause when she hosts the Brian Morris Closest to the Pin Charity Event at Government House on April 22.

The competition is being held in memory of the late Ocean View Golf Club head professional with proceeds going towards local cancer treatment centre Pals.

“I am not a golfer, but I do plan on taking part in the challenge, as I hope will a good many others,” the Governor told The Royal Gazette. “I encourage all of Brian’s family, friends, supporters and golfers in general to come out on April 22 to support a worthy cause.

“My family and I are excited to host the Brian Morris Closest to the Pin Charity Event at Government House. We are keen to continue to allow the use of Government House grounds for charitable events such as this.”

Morris passed away in January after a long battle against brain cancer.

Despite having initially been told by doctors he had only months to live, Morris defied the odds and soldiered on for a further three years before finally succumbing to his illness at the age of 55.

“I only met Brian on a few occasions but recall his joy of life,” the Governor added. “He was a man who, in the face of adversity, rose to face his challenges with a can-do attitude.

“He continued to live a life full of purpose by giving back to his community.”

It is Morris’s charitable nature which led to the creation of this charity event but he never got to see it come to fruition.

“In late 2022, Brian came to me to request the use of Government House grounds for what he wanted to be, not just a golfing challenge, but a challenge to the community to come together to raise money for a charitable cause,” the Governor said.

“I was really pleased to agree for Government House grounds to be used for such a worthy cause. Sadly, Brian passed before the event was held, so the closest-to-the-pin event on April 22 will instead be held in Brian’s memory, with the monies raised going to Pals.”

Morris came up with the concept in an attempt to increase awareness of the relationship between Ocean View and Government House, while also strengthening the relationship between Government House and the community and raising funds for a charity of the Governor’s choice.

After his proposal was approved, Morris met with the Governor to discuss preliminary details of the event but passed away just two weeks later. However, his fellow organising committee members decided to go ahead with plans to stage the competition in his honour

with the Governor choosing Pals as the beneficiary of the proceeds.

“It was without any hesitation that we decided to go ahead with this event,” Cheryl-Lynne Thompson, the Ocean View Golf Club president, said.

“Brian was an extraordinary individual with a brilliant mind. As Ocean View already celebrates the competition named the Governor’s Cup, where the Governor selects a team to play against the members of Ocean View Golf Club, it was a natural fit when Brian came up with this idea. The difference is that this event is open to the public to participate.

“Brian thought this would be a wonderful idea to show unity between the Governor, the community and the Ocean View Golf Club. The stipulation was that the Governor name the charitable recipient of the proceeds.

“We are extremely proud of the significance of this because it adds another momentous and symbolic occasion to the Ocean View calendar.

“Sincerely, we thank Brian

for his ingenuity and special thanks to Governor Rena Lalgie for agreeing to host and participate in making this event successful.

“It’s another opportunity for us to pay homage to our head professional, the late Brian Morris.”

The event will be held from 10am to 5pm on Government House grounds and is open to all men and women’s golfers starting from the age of 6.

Entry deadline expires on April 9 with registration to be done online at oceanviewctp@gmail.com. For more details contact either 533-4333 or 536-1945.