NEGRIL, Jamaica — The organisers of the Couples Charity Golf Tournament are already targeting a bumper turnout for next year’s 10th staging of the event in Negril.

The ninth edition, held on Sunday at the Negril Hills Golf Course, attracted local amateur players as well as those based in Kingston, St James and St Ann. Approximately $1.2 million was raised to support charity after a successful day at the lush and expansive golf course.

Glenn Lawrence, the chief executive officer for Couples Resorts, is hoping that inviting professional golfers for the 2016 tournament will help to boost the marketing mileage.

“Next year we are going to try to invite the pros to play. So we’ll have an amateur section, which we had today (on Sunday), and we will also have the professionals and once they come we can raise more money and make the profile [of the tournament] even bigger,” he said.

Lawrence explained that the location of the course in Negril is a deterrent to some golfers travelling from the eastern end of the island, but noted that the participation this year provides promise for growth.

“There are a lot of people who don’t play at Negril Hills because it’s the farthest golf course in the island. But several players from Kingston were here for the first time and they all enjoyed it, and I’m going to encourage them to come next year,” said the Couples Resorts CEO.

Tournament director Sebert Walker, who hails from the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in St James, endorsed the Couples Charity tournament. Walker, a veteran golfer, said “it was a good day of golf to support a worthy cause”.

Lawrence and Richard White were the main winners of the day, based on net score. They were followed by second-placed Errol Williams and Dennis Jones; third-placed Glenroy Walker and Murine Blake; fourth-placed Paul Chin and Stainton Baker; and fifth-placed John Faulkner and Daniel Neely.

Ian Royal and Steve Richards won first place, based on gross score. Tommy Smith and Douglas Stiebel were second on the gross score calculation.

Norris Scafe won the putting contest.

Bobby Vertullo was closest to the pin for the fourth hole; Maggie Lyn closest to the seventh; Donald Anderson closest to the 10th; and former cricketer Maurice Foster closest to the 16th hole.

This year’s beneficiaries are Clifton Boys’ Home and Grange Hill Primary School.

The sponsors of the tournament were Digicel, VIP Attractions, C&W Business Solutions, Caribbean Producers, Interbrand, Anderson’s Fabrics, Antilles Freight, CIBC FirstCaribbean, and National Commercial Bank.