Golfers at the 24th annual Jeff Preston Celebrity Golf Tournament gather behind Dr Jeff Preston after they anxiously waited for the storm to pass before they could hit the green.

Hub Staff

The Jeff Preston Celebrity Golf Tournament was scheduled to tee off at 11 a.m. on July 19 but Mother Nature had her own plans. The first few drops were felt at the Saugeen Golf Club venue just before tee off and a heavy downpour began promptly at 11 a.m. Golfers took the opportunity to grab lunch provided by the Queen’s Bar and Grill before quickly seeking shelter.

The tournament is organized by the Port Elgin Rotary Club in efforts to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy research. Preston, who is originally from Port Elgin, was diagnosed with congenital Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 3 months, which eventually bound him to an electric wheelchair.

Today, Preston teaches Disability Studies at the King’s University College in London, Ontario and was recently appointed Chair of Jesse’s Journey Board of Directors. Jesse’s Journey was founded as a way for Jesse's family, the Davidson family, to raise funds to find a cure for Jesse who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The funds raised from the Jeff Preston Golf Tournament are matched each year by Jesse’s Journey and has resulted in the tournament raising nearly $1.45 million to date, reported Rotary member Rob Dunlop.

Now in its 24th year, the tournament saw 132 golfers on the course including celebrity guests Bryan Lewis, a former NHL referee of 1023 games, 30 playoff games and nine Stanley Cup finals; and Les Binkley, the original goalie for the Pittsburg Penguins.

In attendance at the Jeff Preston Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Saugeen Golf Club July 19  was the original Pittsburg Penguins goalie Les Binkley (left) and former NHL referee Bryan Lewis.

Doug Freiburger (left) and Mike Bolton dutifully manned the Bag Drop station as golfers arrived for the 24th annual Jeff Preston Celebrity Golf Tournament at Saugeen Golf Club July 19.

Boston Pizza owner Trevor Spencer (right) and Community Relations Coordinator Stacey Clark warmed up the golfers with a putting challenge before they officially began the Jeff Preston Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Caroline Dadswell (left) and Kate Brewer from the Queen’s Bar and Grill served up a hearty lunch to keep golfers fuelled while on the course July 19 at the Saugeen Golf Club.

A live auction followed dinner which included signed jerseys from recent Stanley Cup Champion Robert Thomas, Joe Thornton from the San Jose Sharks and John Taveres played the last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.