Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters champion Tony Johnstone helped raise over £100,000 at the Tony Johnstone MS Society Pro-Am at Sunningdale on Monday.
Johnstone was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis six years ago. Supported by the Tour Players’ Foundation, the charitable foundation of The European Tour and its members, friends from around the world, including players such as Nick Dougherty and Sam Torrance, joined Johnstone for the special day.
Johnstone was placed on a new trial treatment which enabled him to make a competitive comeback. His win in the Jersey Senior Masters last year was particularly emotional after all he had been through and on Sunday he claimed a second success.
“The timing of my win couldn’t be better with the MS Society Day,” said Johnstone. “Charlie Perring of the Senior Tour had been saying all week it would be great to announce me as the British Senior Masters champion.
“In 2003, when I was diagnosed with MS, they said I would never play again. I was shattered when I was told, just shattered. I just sat in my car and cried for half and hour.
“Then I got on this trial for this new drug and it got me back my career, gave me back everything really. I have been extremely lucky but there are 100,000 plus people suffering from MS in this country who can’t get on the drug. You have to do something and we are doing this day in return.”
Johnstone, who shoot a ten-birdie 62, added: "It was a fantastic day. People’s generosity with their time, products and bidding was truly astonishing."
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