FINCHY’S OPEN MEDAL TO HELP CHARITIES

IAN BAKER-FINCH has returned his Open Championship-winning medal to The R&A, and is donating the proceeds to charity.

One of the chief benefactors of $50,000 gained from the return of the medal is the Melbourne-based Challenge, which provides support services to young people diagnosed with cancer. Jarrod Lyle, who passed away six months ago from acute myeloid leukaemia, was an ambassador.

‘Finchy’ won The Open at Royal Birkdale in 1991 and was presented the Claret Jug to keep for a year and a Gold Medal as the Champion Golfer Of The Year. The Queenslander handed his prized medal back to the R&A recently and will now go on display in the clubhouse at the scene of his famous victory.

Baker-Finch’s Gold Medal will now be showcased alongside other prestigious memorabilia from the 10 Championships which have been played at the renowned North West links since 1954.

“Many of my charitable activities have focused upon improving the lives of young people and particularly those who are

undergoing care and treatment for cancerrelated illnesses in Australia,” Baker-Finch said.

“These charities are very close to my heart and I know these funds will make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families. I would like to thank The R&A for its generosity in helping to support these initiatives.”

The R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers said: “One of Ian’s most enduring qualities is his unstinting acts of kindness and we were delighted to support these charitable activities which clearly mean a lot to him.

“His memorable victory at Royal Birkdale remains one of the great stories in the cherished history of The Open and it is entirely fitting that his Gold Medal should be displayed at the club where he lifted the famous Claret Jug.”

The proceeds from The R&A will be donated to Challenge as well as Redkite, which was founded as The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children in Australia in 1983 and provides essential support to children, teenagers and young adults with cancer to ensure the best possible quality of life for them and

their family.

Funds will also be donated by Baker-Finch to the Golf Foundation in the UK to support its Girls Golf Rocks participation programme which provides taster sessions, weekly coaching and opportunities to play at par-3 courses.