The changeable weather and tight European PGA schedule, which made it very difficult for the normal crowd of star overseas professionals to get to England from Germany, the annual Constantino Rocca Charity Tournament at Thorpe Hall could have been a disaster.

However,the personality of Italian tournament pro Rocca and the enthusiasm of the players and their guests made the day a great success.

Big-hearted - some of the golfing line-up for Constantino Rocca's Charity Day at Thorpe Hall Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

The proceeds of the day were for the Thorpe Hall cadets and A Birdie for Life, the Rocca charity which helps children with illness and hunger in Somalia, other African countries and Italian children who have an impoverished background.

In the evening, an auction conducted by Ian Southgate, of golf memorabelia, equipment and many other items, was thoroughly enjoyed by the 120 players and guests.

Combined with a raffle, the tournament itself and other fund raising ideas the day raised over £25,000.

Elio Tintori, the interior designer and friend of Constantino, who is a member of Thorpe Hall, put in countless hours of hard work and persuasion to make the event happen and with his many helpers deserves many congratulations.

Major sponsors on the day included clothing companies Sergio Tacchini and Own Design while the field also had Thorpe's own tournament pro Richard McEvoy and ex Thorpe cadet Anna Garside, now a female professional, competing.

The Thorpe Hall Leslie Wood team, in spite of high hopes this year, came to grief at the second hurdle at Orsett.

A series of close foursomes matches in the morning all went to Orsett and, in spite of a valliant effort, the fightback could not be maintained and they went down 11.5-3.5.

Published Thursday, May 22, 2003

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