The Tribune

PEDIGREES may have their Westminster Kennel Club show, but it was the Bahamian Potcake – that special breed of dog with the narrow head and a keen sense of how to cross the street on its own terms – that stole the show during the 1st Annual Potcake Golf Tournament.

The golf tourney was hosted by businessman, triathlete and golfer Mario Carey to raise funds for BAARK, Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness.

“We had a great tournament, full course, 124 players, exceeding what we originally expected to register. The weather was perfect, the Ocean Club course on P.I. was in top condition.

Best of all, everyone had a super time and we helped BAARK, which is doing an awesome job of spaying and neutering dogs for the health and well-being of the domestic pet population and to keep our communities safer,” said Carey.

“It was the first tournament of its kind so I wasn’t sure what to expect but the volunteers from BAARK were tremendous and it worked out perfectly.”

With ALIV as the title sponsor and Royal Caribbean donating the top raffle prize, the tourney and raffle winners walked away with a treasure trove of goods from golf for four at Albany, Lyford Cay and Paradise Island, airline tickets on Tropic Ocean Airways and hotel stays to gift baskets from John Bull and libations from Sands, Tito’s (Bahamian Brewery) and Caribbean Wines & Spirits.

The tournament with three mini-tourneys in the mix included best gross (overall) score, best net and the heritage trophy in which 2-person teams representing a country or island of their heritage were pitted against one another.

Marcus Farrington and Andrew Bell were dual winners, best twosome in tourney with the lowest overall score (gross) and took second in net score.

Chris Bloore with a single digit handicap of 7 and partner Ben Thomas placed first in the net score division and Kelsey Rolle and James Gomez were third in net. The heritage trophy sponsored by ALIV went to the teams of Bloore and Harris, Phil Andrews partnering with Jenna Bayles and Felix Stubbs with partner Paul Major.

Other net winners included Patrick and Alex Stevenson fourth, Doug Cowper and partner Robert Davidowski fifth, and Kit Spencer and Christine Cassell sixth.

The player who came in last won golf lessons with Ocean Club pro Mike Simons.

Carey said the idea for the tournament was borne from a desire to assist Vicki Bethel, the woman Paradise Island calls the cat lady.

“Every day Vicki goes out in the golf cart in the dark at 5am and feeds up to 30 to 40 cats, then goes to work managing all the events for the Ocean Club Golf Club,” said Carey.

“We want to make sure that Vicki knows she will always be supported in caring for the cats that keep Paradise Island rodent-free.

“When I asked her how I or my team could help her, Vicki said host a golf tournament for BAARK because of the incredible work they do, so today is all because of Vicki paying it forward to BAARK.”

The organisation said the cheque with tournament proceeds would be a major contributor to its most ambitious plans yet.

“We are incredibly appreciative to everyone who came out and had fun while helping us meet the financial obligations that we face as we take on our most ambitious project to date.

“Our mobile unit arrives in the first part of 2022 and by March, we intend to be on the road here in Nassau spaying and neutering up to 6,000 animals in the coming year,” said Laura Kimble, Baark! chairman.

“We have so many dedicated volunteers and friends helping us put an end to animal abuse and cruelty that includes overpopulation of strays and I feel like today we just gained 124 new friends and their friends,” she lamented.

Among the standouts – a portrait of a potcake by artist Jamaal Rolle. It was auctioned off with all funds going to BAARK.