Tiago’s eagerness to help his younger peers led to the launch of the ‘Tiago Sousa Golf Project’
Quinta do Lago is preparing to host the second edition of the Tiago Sousa Memorial Tournament, which will take place on Wednesday, August 21 at the Quinta do Lago South Course.
The charity golf tournament is held in honour of Tiago Sousa, an 18-year-old member of Quinta do Lago’s Paul McGinley Golf Academy who died tragically along with five teammates and his coach in a car accident in Texas, USA in 2022.
Besides helping keep his memory alive, the event aims to raise money for the ‘Tiago Sousa Golf Project’, created to help promote golf at local schools and supported by the Portuguese Golf Federation, Quinta do Lago and the Paul McGinley Golf Academy.
Described by his family as a “caring, open-minded person that had a big heart and enjoyed life,” Tiago was studying in the USA thanks to a scholarship he worked hard to receive.
“Golf was his biggest passion,” they say. “He worked so hard to get the scholarship to play and study in the USA, and when he got the information that he was accepted, he was so happy and excited! He was working hard over there every day to get better in golf and his school grades were on top of the class. Tiago also loved teaching and helping the younger ones so they could achieve what he did”.
Tiago’s eagerness to help his younger peers is another reason the ‘Tiago Sousa Golf Project’ was set up, in hopes of bringing the sport to many who would otherwise never have the chance.
Giving family members an opportunity to play golf with children is another goal of the tournament, which will be open to parent-child (or grandparent-grandchild) teams (€160 per team, including buggy). Single players can also sign up (€80 per player) and will be paired up with a playing partner if needed.
The golf round, which will begin with a shotgun start at 8am, will be followed by a ‘Family BBQ’ which will be attended by Paul McGinley, who will be available to talk and take pictures with all participants. The cost of the barbeque is €75 per person, with a 50% discount for children aged 12 and under.
There will also be an auction to raise further funds for the project, which in October will begin a partnership with schools in Almancil to bring students to the golf course for lessons.
You can learn more about the ‘Tiago Sousa Golf Project’ at www.tiagosousagolf.com, where donations can also be made. To register for the Tiago Sousa Tournament, contact tiagosousagolf@gmail.com.
By MICHAEL BRUXO
michael.bruxo@portugalresident.com
