Fresh off wrapping up the home leg of the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with his team the Saint Lucia Kings, legendary Saint Lucian cricketer and head coach Daren Sammy did not hang up his athletic ambitions — instead, he traded his cricket bat for a driver to host his fifth annual charity golf tournament at Cap Estate’s iconic Sandals Golf & Country Club. The event, held to benefit his eponymous Daren Sammy Foundation (DSF), brings together sports figures, regional golf enthusiasts and community leaders each year to fund educational and athletic opportunities for young people across the island.
This year’s iteration drew 57 golfers from across Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean region, with a star-studded guest list that included CPL Chief Executive Officer Pete Russell, former West Indies cricket captain Daren Ganga, South African international cricket stars Quinton de Kock and George Linde, former Irish international cricketer Niall O’Brien, veteran sports broadcaster Alex Jordan, and Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association President Wayne Baptiste. The turnout reflected widespread support for Sammy’s mission to uplift the next generation of Saint Lucians through targeted investment in education and sports.
After 18 holes of competitive play, the team division delivered a nail-biting finish that saw three separate teams tie for the lowest net score of 58. Samuel Richelieu and Gordon Julien edged out the competition to claim the first-place title with an stellar net score of -13, while Bertrand Johannes and Keymanie Thompson finished a close second, and Andrew McHale and Kenneth Mathurin rounded out the top three. Mario Reyes and Peter Joe Devaux took fourth place with a net score of 59, and Henix Joseph and Dharmendra Shah completed the top five with a final net score of 60.
Beyond team competition, the tournament also featured individual skill challenges that showcased local golfing talent. Winston Charles earned the men’s Longest Drive award with an impressive opening tee shot, while Kimberly John took home the same honor in the women’s division. For the Closest to the Pin challenge, Chris Owen and Remy Smith shared the men’s title, with Jenifer Mendes claiming the women’s top spot.
By the end of the tournament, organizers announced that the event had raised roughly EC$78,000 for the Daren Sammy Foundation — a timely influx of funding, as dozens of DSF scholarship recipients prepare to head back to school for the new academic year. Since its launch, the foundation has centered its work on expanding youth development across Saint Lucia by combining access to educational scholarships and athletic programming, creating long-term opportunities for young people from across the island. The event capped off with a celebratory photo opportunity for the winning team, joined by Sammy, his wife Cathy and his daughter Skai to mark the milestone of another successful fundraiser.