Glenn Lawrence chief executive officer (CEO) of Couples Resorts was left beaming following the success of the 15th staging of the Couples Resorts Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Sunday.

The event, which took place at the picturesque Sandals Golf and Country Club, attracted 98 participants and raised a record $1.9 million for its charities.

Three Hills Primary School, located in Charles Town District, St Mary, is set to benefit from $1 million of the proceeds, with the remaining funds going towards the Port Maria Hospital, Hamilton Mountain Basic School and the Animal House in Lydford, St Ann.

Lawrence extended gratitude to the participants who played an integral part in the event, raising $200,000 more than the $1.7 million last year.

“A full field in these tournaments are 72 golfers — so when 98 golfers turned up you realise that you have attracted a good field. The money raised is a bonus in terms of our sponsors, entry fees and a raffle.

“So overall our charities will receive 100 per cent of these earnings and that really is the bottom line. People have come out, travelling great distances from Negril and all the way from Kingston to make it a successful event, so I am very grateful,” Lawrence told the Jamaica Observer.

The Couples Resorts CEO pointed out that the event, which was the concept of their repeat guests, has grown significantly and has so far raised approximately $26 million over the years for the respective charities.

During that time, proceeds from the event were used to donate and maintain an X-ray machine presented to the Port Maria Hospital, present furniture and equipment to Three Hills Primary and Hamilton Basic schools, and fund the upkeep of the Animal House.

“Our repeat guests were having these little tournaments with 30-40 people and we took it over. Most importantly, they kept coming out and it has grown, so we have seen the results since we started,” Lawrence noted.

“Despite inflation, we are still ahead of the curve and there are some projects that the schools have already outlined and one is upgrading a canteen which would be a good plus. I think the tournament has only got stronger and with a little bit better organisation we should be able to raise even more funds next year,” he added.

Meanwhile, Slean Harris, principal of Three Hills Primary, was elated after receiving the symbolic cheque.

“This is one of the biggest contributions to the school so far, and it will be going into building our tuck shop and our sick bay and making room for a staff quarters. So this will be taking us to another level of development so that when the children are ill they will have somewhere to rest their heads before going home,” she explained.

“For me it is a vast improvement in my tenure as a principal because this venture is a part of our school improvement plan. So this will actually be covering three quarters of what we have planned for school for the next two years,” she added.