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Pair reach $4K target in marathon golf fundraiser

December 28, 2022 BY

Darren Hellmann (left) and Trung Truong (right) during their Longest Day fundraiser. Photos: SUPPLIED

GOLF’S longest day of the year saw 3,809 tremendous efforts take place across the country, through 217 clubs raising more than $2 million in the process to fight cancer.

Among the efforts was Portarlington resident and Portarlington Golf Club member Trung Truong’s The Longest Golf Day, who, with the help of Portarlington Demons vice president Darren Hellmann, conquered their goal of $4,000 on Monday last week.

Coming off a scorching hot 2021 The Longest Day fundraiser, Mr Truong was met with weather conditions at the other end of the spectrum, bracing a chilly Bellarine wind and rain ahead of 72 holes.

“The last few years have been the hottest doing The Longest Day, but this year was by far the coldest summer that I can remember,” Mr Truong said.

Trung Truong about to send another ball down the fairway.

 

“I had to get changed a couple times into some new clothes, but it was great to see everyone from the club out on the course.

“Last time I checked I was a couple hundred dollars off my individual goal of $3,000, but Darren and I achieved the team goal of $4,000 and it’s still getting higher.”

Mr Truong and Mr Hellman began five minutes past 6am on the day start his first of four rounds.

The second round started about 9.10am finishing it in just over three hours. After a quick sandwich for lunch, it was time to tee off again.

The third round teed off at 12.30pm without Mr Hellman, but the wind slowing slightly and some sunshine gave the false impression of the rain being over.

Golf club member Ned accompanied the pair on the final hole with his signature bagpipes.

 

With Mr Hellman back on the team, Mr Truong teed off at 3.15pm for the fourth and final round, where he persevered through the 72nd hole.

“A huge thank you to everyone for the support, donations, and kind thoughts, I could have not done it without you,” Mr Truong said.

“We can all do our bit for cancer patients and I’m looking forward to doing it again in 2023.”

Mr Truong hopes to make his annual fundraiser more club-oriented in 2023, as a way of getting more members to take part on the day.

Trung is less than $200 away from reaching his individual goal.

To donate, head to longestday.org.au/fundraisers/trungtruong