BEATSON CANCER CHARITY ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL CHARITY AT 2017 ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN

July 10, 2017

Professional golfer, Kelsey MacDonald, supports ‘birdie pledge’ initiative

Dundonald, 9 July, 2017 – The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open is proud to announce Beatson Cancer Charity, a Scottish based cancer charity, as the Official Charity of the Championship at Dundonald Links from 27th – 30th July.

For the third year in a row, Beatson Cancer Charity has been named the official charity of the Championship with close to £20,000 being raised in the last two tournaments. This year, for the first time in Ladies Scottish Open history, the event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA, giving the ‘birdie pledge’ initiative supported by title sponsor, Aberdeen Asset Management extra significance. With an increased 156-strong player field taking to Dundonald Links, the fundraising target looks set to be high with Aberdeen donating £5 for every birdie and £10 for every eagle scored over the course of the Championship.

Beatson Cancer Charity is committed to raising significant funds to enhance the experience, treatment, outcomes and wellbeing of current and former cancer patients and their families across Scotland and beyond. The charity has history with the tournament, with former close supporters and friends of the tournament receiving treatment at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre whilst Ladies European Tour player and 2017 competitor, Kelsey MacDonald’s Grandad spent 18 months being cared for by the centre.

Talking about the announcement Kelsey MacDonald, said, “It’s fantastic news to hear that the Championship has Beatson as their official charity again and with it being a bigger event, I’m sure the spotlight will be on them a little more and it will provide them with some great publicity. From a personal point of view, my Grandad received care there and my family, especially my Gran, always wants to give Beatson support whenever she can and she is going to come and watch me play during the week to offer more support.”

Speaking about the pledge, Kelsey continued, “It’s such an amazing pledge and with the field being bigger and having better players, I’m confident that a decent amount of money will be raised. I’ll be doing everything I can to make as many birdies and I’ll certainly have the pledge in mind on my way around the course.”

Joyce Ross Corporate Partnerships Manager at Beatson Cancer Charity, said, “We’re very grateful to Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open for their committed and unwavering support. We are delighted to be back with them for the third year. The funds raised by the birdie pledge will be vital in helping us to continue to support patients and families affected by cancer.”

Claire Drummond, Head of Charitable Giving at Aberdeen Asset Management, said, “It is with great delight that we’re able to carry on our support of Beatson Cancer Charity for this year’s Ladies’ Scottish Open.

“We hope our support of the ‘Birdies Pledge’, as well as other initiatives associated with the event, will have a significant bearing on people who are affected by cancer, and we are very pleased to be able to help in this way.”

For more information on Beatson Cancer Charity – http://www.beatsoncancercharity.org/

Taking place the week before the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns in 2017, the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open will kick off a superb two weeks of links golf in Scotland. The back-to-back stretch of events echoes the successful strategy employed by the Men’s Scottish Open taking place the week before The Open – an approach proven to be a competitive advantage for those players competing in both Championships. The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open is also a key element of Scotland’s commitments to the of The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles.

Watch the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open LIVE on Sky Sports on Thursday/Friday from 14:00-17:00 and Saturday/Sunday from 15:00-18:00.

For further information, please visit: https://womensscottish.com/ or follow us at @AberdeenLSO