Bacardi's sponsorship of Bermuda's National Par 3 Championship fits in perfectly with the company's role as a corporate socially responsible citizen in the community.

That is according to Michael Brennan, president and CEO of Bacardi International, who was taking part in the Pro-Am held on Friday and whose team were busy organising the event along with its hosts the Fairmont Southampton.

Bacardi has signed a three-year deal to sponsor the tournament and hopes to continue supporting a range of other sporting events held across the Island in the future.

The two-day, 36-hole championship golf tournament, which was open to amateur and professional golfers and sanctioned by the Bermuda Golf Association and the Professional Golfers' Association of Bermuda, culminating in the main event on Saturday, was held in benefit of the Bermuda Red Cross.

Mr. Brennan described the partnership with Fairmont Southampton to stage the tournament as a "natural fit" after being approached to be the lead sponsors for the event.

"We are incredibly proud to be title sponsor of the Bacardi National Par-3 Championship," he said. "Bacardi long ago made a commitment to give back to our adopted island home since we established our global base here more than 40 years ago.

"This tournament will benefit Bermuda Red Cross and it will also provide Bermuda's golfers with the type of high-calibre event that helps them to develop and reach their personal and professional goals."

Mr. Brennan said he hoped the tournament would be a long-standing success, adding that he believed Bacardi's commitment to the tournament went hand-in-hand with all of the other events it sponsored in the arts, sports and health care fields.

"We are always looking for good opportunities to play a part in the community," he said.

"We truly believe that being a good corporate socially responsible citizen is important and as a spirits business we need to make sure that people use our products responsibly."

Other key sponsors HSBC Bermuda, John Barritt and Son, Rayclan Chevrolet, M3 Wireless and Cartridge World Bermuda.