The Third Annual
Emily Morgan Celebration Golf Tournament

{ 2009 Tournament Brochure }

From the St. Thomas Times-Journal, written by Eric Bunnell

There was a triple shootout Saturday, May 16, 2009 in Port Stanley, but it had a happy ending.

Three teams of golfers were vying to claim the title trophy at the Third Annual Emily Morgan Celebration charity golf tournament. Each finished the best ball 18-hole challenge with a seven-under-par 60 -- forcing a closest-to-the-pin shootout that went three rounds before a winner was finally declared.

"It was a hard-fought battle," laughed Dianne Morgan, after the Mark Bowlby foursome -- Bowlby, Tom Richards, Denis Walters, and Brian Bowman -- claimed the tournament cup for the third year running.

But while they walked off with first place, there will was plenty of fun to go around at the tourney which had more than 350 sponsors chipping in for prizes and silent auction items.

And at the end of the day, a plucky little girl -- daughter of Dianne and Tony, and sister of Lucy -- was remembered in fine style.  Emily would have turned 17 in October but died after a life-long battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

Thanking the 76 golfers who played Saturday, the volunteers who organized the tournament, and the sponsors, Morgan said she's overwhelmed by community support for the event.

"It's huge -- we are very lucky to get this kind of backing."

The Emily Morgan Foundation supports families with children who have serious illness, with what Morgan calls "gifts" from Emily.

Having experienced the illness of her own child whose battle included a double-lung transplant, Morgan said she knows the financial strain placed on families. "The costs can get so high."

A scrapbook at the tournament detailed some of the gifts the Foundation has made.  They come with no strings attached:  Morgan is happy some families use their gift for a stress-relieving family night out together.  "You have your good days and you want to celebrate those."

The Foundation also funds bursaries for students at Emily's two schools -- Wellington and Homedale -- who, like her, have confronted challenges in their lives.

The Fourth Annual Emily Morgan Celebration Golf Tournament will take place at the Kettle Creek Golf and Country Club on Saturday, May 22, 2010.

2009 Photos