Florida golfers secure top tournament spots in support of local children

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Competition reached a fever pitch at Heathrow Country Club on April 17, 2026, as golfers competed in the Duke of Edinburgh Cup Qualifier.

Donna Matcham of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., claimed the top spot in a narrow victory, with Marcus McIntyre of Tampa, Fla., finishing in second place. Their stellar performances have earned both players a prestigious invitation to compete in the Duke of Edinburgh Cup World Finals, a two-day competition at Wentworth Golf Club and Windlesham Golf Club in England this fall. The five-night trip also includes a match at The Royal Household Golf Club at Windsor Castle and a gala prize-giving dinner at Windsor Castle with a senior member of the Royal Family in attendance.

“The energy on the course reflected the importance of our mission,” said Diane LaVigna, managing director of Blessings in a Backpack Central Florida. “We are thrilled to send Donna and Marcus to England to represent our communities and our cause – feeding kids on the weekends during the school year.”

Other winners included Bradley Wright of Lexington, Ky., who won the Joan L. Kidd MD Fight for Life Cup in a five-hole playoff, and Donald Dunivant of Panama City, Fla., who won the Joan L. Kidd MD Fight for Life Ryder Cup Shootout.

The Duke of Edinburgh Qualifier was made possible by presenting sponsors, the Kate & Justin Rose Foundation and Cahill Homes, and national sponsors Sysco, Red Robin, and Shady Rays. Supporting sponsors included 3MG Roofing & Solar, Lowndes, Mercedes-Benz of North Orlando, World Class Stone, Statewide Electric Incorporated, Vandergrift Financial Group of Raymond James, Blenheim Palace Water, SHEEHY strategies, Slone Bros Furniture, Regency Real Estate – Blaine Dooley, Nemours Children’s Health, Hilton Orlando, Benchmark Realty, EZVA Global Virtual Assistant Services, Pixel Realty, Saint Lawrence Title, Runabout Brewing Company, and Orlando Emergency Signal.

Blessings in a Backpack Central Florida

Blessings in a Backpack is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that mobilizes resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry. Through signature events like the Central Florida Classic, the chapter raises the vital funds necessary to ensure students return to school nourished and ready to learn. Learn more at https://orlando.blessingsinabackpack.org.