The Avele College Old Pupils Association hosted a golf tournament on Saturday to raise funds for the celebration of the college's 100th year anniversary in 2024.

Despite the terrible weather conditions, a total of 78 teams participated in the tournament which was divided into four categories of A B C and women's divisions.

"There are 78 teams competing in the 4 categories, when it rained there we decided to put them in mixed teams," said the Avele College Old Pupils Association President, Tupa’i Tauiliili Albert Atoa.

The coveted prize in Saturday’s A.C.O.P.A Golf Competition was a Hyundai Staria 12-seater van and a Hyundai Tucson which were left unclaimed at the conclusion of the tournament.

In order to take home the prized vehicle, the participating golfers had to hit a hole-in-one on the tenth hole on the tournament day, which the organisers say was not achieved at the close of the competition. 

Tupa’i told the Samoa Observer in an interview that the objective of the competition is to support the celebration of the 100^th year since Avele College was established.

“Avele is the oldest government secondary school still existing, which is the focal point of why A.C.O.P.A has initiated this tournament,” he said.

"Avele College has contributed a lot to the development of Samoa by mentoring and nurturing future leaders. Avele College is now the oldest government school when Vaipouli College was closed down. 

"We're not doing this for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those who'll be educated at Avele."

“We also want to develop that talent and help them grow in the sport, not only for the betterment of the sport in Samoa, but to create a pathway for young aspiring athletes who are looking to pick up the sport of golf.”

Tupa’i said that even though the main prize wasn’t a guaranteed win, there were still other prizes for the tournament competitors to take home. 

The prize for the ball closest to the tenth hole went Tile Faaaliga from the Fagalii Golf Club.

Tile told this newspaper that he competed in the tournament with the mission of taking home one of the two vehicles home.