(Zimbali Coastal Resort) – Bollywood diva and model Neha Dhupia will join an all-star line-up of top professional golfers, sports and entertainment celebrities, as well as a host of leading business executives for the 12th edition of the annual Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola.
The former Miss India has yet to take up the game of golf but is passionate about throwing her glamorous support behind Africa’s premier charity event, hosted by career Grand Slam champion Gary Player, at the Zimbali Coastal Resort from 11-13 November 2011.
Dhupia will be joined by countryman and international cricket legend Kapil Dev, fellow cricketers Paul Collingwood from England and former Protea Shaun Pollock, former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe, and South African rugby icons Pierre Spies and Breyten Paulse.
Renowned International Rugby Board and 2012 World Cup Final referee Craig Joubert and 5FM Prime Weekend Breakfast Show host Thomas Msengana are also supporting the charity drive of an event that raises funds to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in South Africa.
Dhupia has set the screens alight in more than 20 starring roles, but behind her beauty lies the intelligence of a woman that has an honours degree in History and ran the Mumbai Marathon this year in an effort to raise money for the Concern India Foundation, a non-profit organisation she supports and that assists disadvantaged women and children as well as the elderly.
Earlier this year, the actress even launched an international Twitter campaign to spread awareness and raise money for the victims of the 2011 Sikkim earthquake.
Msengana is elated at his good fortune to tee it up with international celebrities and sports stars, as well as the rare opportunity of playing with the likes of Gary Player and former Masters champion Ian Woosnam.
“As if playing with a career Grand Slam champion was not pressure enough, between Gary Player, the other professionals and those sporting legends, it’s an all-star line-up,” he said.
“I don’t really mind being the odd man out, though, because it’s a dream come true for a sports fanatic like me. It will take some getting used to, though. Down the one end of the driving range you’ll be looking at a line of top professionals and down the other, a bunch of internationally acclaimed sports stars.
“But it is an absolutely privilege to line up in the Gary Player Invitational to help our host raise money for charity. After all, this is what it’s all about. Rubbing shoulders with sporting legends for three days is just a really, really nice added bonus.”
The 32 participants will play in eight teams of four, comprising a senior professional, a professional, a celebrity and a business executive who captains the team. The teams will compete over 36 holes in a Fourball Alliance with two scores to count in the charity pro-am event, while the two professionals in each group will also compete in a separate Betterball Medal competition.
Although the official draw for this year’s tournament will only be done on Thursday, Msengana already has his fingers crossed on drawing Player or Woosnam.
“With respect to the rest of the professionals, it would be like the ultimate dream come true to play in the biggest charity tournament in Africa with a Major winner,” he said. “But I’m sure we will still have a fantastic time, no matter who I end up playing with. At the end of the day, we all know why we are here. Charity is the big winner.”
In addition to tournament host Player, the Champions Tour line-up includes former Masters champion and European Ryder Cup captain Woosnam and fellow Brit Mark James, a three time winner on the Champions Tour, twice a winner on the European Senior Tour and also a former European Ryder Cup captain.
European Tour and European Senior Tour winner DJ Russell from England makes his debut alongside former French Open champion Vincent Tshabalala, back for his ninth appearance, while former South African PGA Championship winner Roger Wessels returns for a second time since 2001 and Zimbabwe’s Tony Johnstone, another European Tour and European Senior Tour winner, returns for the fourth time.
South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, a five-time Ladies European Tour winner and 2010 Henderson Money List champion, leads the regular pro line-up that will feature PGA Tour and European Tour winner Jesper Parnevik, European Tour winner Peter Hanson, Ladies European Tour winner Diana Luna, multiple Sunshine Tour winners James Kamte and Jaco van Zyl, and rising Scottish star Carly Booth.
Claudia Schönfeld makes her return in the business executives line-up alongside her husband Dieter, also a Major shareholder in Alfred E Tiefenbacher, president of IFA Hotel Group Africa and Indian Ocean, Wessel Witthuhn, and KeNako Academy chairman Ron Boon.
Final participant announcements to follow.
Tickets are available at the venue or from Computicket at R75 per adult per day. Entry for children under 18 is free.
For further information, please contact:
About the Gary Player Invitational Global Series
The Gary Player Invitational Series, with events in the United Kingdom, United States, China and South Africa, is aimed at raising money for non-profit charitable organisations, whose mission is to provide quality education for disadvantaged and underprivileged children and strengthen impoverished communities plagued by disease and crime.
For over a decade, top professionals, all-star sportsmen, celebrities, and businessmen have come together for the annual Gary Player Invitationals in support of underprivileged children. For more information about our charity series, please visit www.garyplayerinvitational.com .
About Black Knight International
Black Knight International, the global holding company for all divisions of The Player Group, maintains a strong presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Gary Player’s penchant for wearing black attire on the golf course, coupled with his competitive style of play and courteous demeanour, earned him the name, “The Black Knight.” The recognizable Black Knight logo identifies all the companies of The Player Group, including the Gary Player®, Player® and Black Knight® brands.
Contact:
Marc Tudhope, Managing Director, Black Knight International
E: marc@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
Debra Barnes, Client Service Director, Black Knight International
E: debbie@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
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Michael Vlismas
E: michaelv@iafrica.com or T: +27 72 242 8399
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