Challenge benefits $40,000+ from Oates Vic Open

Golf Victoria has announced that the 2018 Oates Vic Open has helped raise $42,109 for its official tournament charity partner, Challenge – supporting kids with cancer.

The final figure was generated via the ‘Celebrity Chef Charity Dinner for Challenge’ and throughout tournament week at 13th Beach Golf Links.

A handful of Australia’s top chefs joined forces on the Friday night of the Oates Vic Open to produce a first-class dining experience in the Presidents Room at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.

Hosted by Tom Gleisner from Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention, 250 guests at the 2018 Celebrity Chef Dinner were treated to a night of great food, drinks, entertainment and live music from acoustic guitarist/vocalist Andre T.

Chefs Scott Pickett, Ian Curley, Todd Moses, Alex Xinis and Craig Gorton – along with global spirit ambassador Brendon Rogers – combined to prepare a one-of-a-kind menu and unique spirit tasting experience.

And while he couldn’t be there in person, Australian golf icon and Challenge ambassador Jarrod Lyle greeted the room with an emotional video message recorded the day of the event.

Lyle’s close friend and Long-time Challenge ambassador Robert Allenby led a Q&A session with Jordan Zunic, China’s Xi Yu Lin, US star Cheyenne Woods and fellow Oates Vic Open champion Stacey Peters.

Overlooking the home ground of the Geelong Cats, star midfielder and Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield joined current Richmond F.C. assistant coach and two-time premiership player Blake Caracella on stage to discuss the upcoming AFL season.

A number of memorabilia items and experiences – including an Australian Olympic golf bag and a trip to the 2018 Australian PGA Championship – were auctioned off later in the evening, with all proceeds going straight to Challenge.

Challenge CEO Dave Rogers says Challenge is thrilled to be one of the biggest benefactors from the growth of the Oates Vic Open.

“It’s outstanding,” said Rogers.

“Understanding that it’s a golf event first and foremost and there’s a charity element to it, I think that amount of money speaks volumes for how the event is tracking moving forward.”

“The money goes directly back into the programs and services, there’s nothing that goes into wages or administration. It goes straight into services that help the kids.”

The money raised on the night will help make it possible for Challenge to assist those in need, particularly in the local area.

“We have a couple of activities down in the Geelong region, like our surf camp that’s held at Lorne and we have the house down in Torquay which we do different events at,” said Rogers.

“There will be a clear path with the money going down that way and we’ll look at cleaning houses and mowing lawns for families down in the Bellarine Peninsula area too.”

2018 marked the fifth consecutive year Challenge has been involved with the Oates Vic Open with Jarrod Lyle’s appearance at the 2014 event marking the start of the partnership.

Throughout tournament week, Challenge ran a number of fundraising initiatives including Pro-Am hole-in-one competitions and a merchandise stand in the spectator village.

Golf Victoria would like to thank the following contributors that assisted with the Celebrity Chef Dinner for Challenge: Presenting sponsor of the night – Port Phillip Ferries, Tom Gleisner, Scott Pickett, Ian Curley, Todd Moses, Alex Xinis, Craig Gorton, Brendon Rogers, GMHBA Stadium, Coca-Cola Amatil, Yenda, Wolf Blass, McHarry’s Buslines, Total Events, Andre T.

For more information or to make a donation to Challenge, visit https://www.challenge.org.au/.