Marcus masters Maddie’s Day

AUSTRALIAN Olympian Marcus Fraser took home victory at Maddie’s Day on the Purple Pro-Am at Clifton Springs Golf Club on Sunday.

The star-studded event raised more than $25,000 for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, a charity set up to help research Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome that claimed her life in 2015.

Adding a personal touch to the day were guests of honour Joe and Fiona Riewoldt (Maddie’s parents), who were on hand to accept the cheque on behalf of the charity.

Fraser won the Pro-Am with a round of 3-under 68, while Brendon Goddard, an ambassador for Maddie’s Riewoldt’s Vision and a close friend of the Riewoldt family, won the celebrity category, beating Dippa in a countback finishing with 34 points.

Fraser was convinced to delay his coming European Tour commitments by close friend Goddard.

“I fly out tomorrow lunchtime for the Singapore Open, then to Dubai, Malaysia and the Perth,” Fraser said on Sunday.

“I then get a couple of weeks off before heading onto New Zealand, India and the Philippines, so I’ve got a pretty busy schedule coming up.”

Fraser said it was nice to come out and play, especially for such a great charity and to all the sponsors that had done such a great job in raising so much for Maddie’s Vision.

“Twenty-five grand in one day is a huge contribution, so thank you,” he said.

Other current and former AFL footballers who took part included Harry Taylor, Sam Newman, Jason Akermanis and Doug Wade. They joined local amateurs and PGA professionals, including former Oates Vic Open winners and married couple Richard Green and Marianne Skarpnord.