Fore-midable fundraisers triumphed at a major golfing tournament in Qatar

Inverclyde golfers Tom Harwood and John McGown claimed coveted places in the European Tour's prestigious Qatar Masters Pro AM after bidding £5,000 for the prize at an auction in aid of the charity Euan's Cause at Gourock Golf Club.

The pair flew to Qatar and enjoyed a three-night stay at a luxury hotel before competing and winning the Masters.

Gourock man Blair Harvey, who works as a golf pro in Qatar and supports Euan's Cause, set up in memory of a little boy who died while waiting for a heart transplant, said: "On behalf of the Euan's Cause Team, we’d all like to thank each and every person that supported us in 2019 - without them what we have achieved wouldn’t be possible.

"Having Tom and John not only scoop the top auction prize, but to travel to Qatar and win the European Tour Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Pro AM topped our 2019 campaign off perfectly.

"Tom even suffered a strenuous athlete's injury to his foot but the sportsman in him didn’t let it affect his game."

The two players from Inverclyde joined top Benjamin Hébert in posting a score of 26 under par at the new Education City Golf Club with the backdrop of what will be the Qatar World Cup semi final stadium in 2022.

Euan's Cause was set up by parents Robert and Nicola Clark as a tribute to their son Euan, who died when he was only 18 months old.

Euan was born with a rare heart condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).

After numerous open heart surgeries, procedures and medicines, Euan passed away at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle on the April 27 in 2012.

He was urgently waiting on a heart transplant which sadly didn’t come in time.

Euan spent some of his short life in Yorkhill and the exceptional care he received inspired Robert, his wife Nicola and their family and friends to raise as much money as they can for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

The couple's friend Blair has thanked all the sponsors who helped with the golf event, including Turkish Airlines, Intercontinental Hotels and Education City Golf Club.

He said: "The charity has gone from strength to strength thanks to our local and international support - along with the hard work of Robert Clark, Derek Watters, Barry Hayes, Gavin McDougall, Fraser Mckillop, Andy Samuel, Andy McPherson and Kevin Trainner.

"Inverclyde has been beyond supportive of our charity and we’re proud to have become a ‘must attend’ in everyone’s calendar of events and we’re truly thankful of that.”