PGA BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH LETAS EVENT IN ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER
PRESS RELEASE
The
Professional Golfers’ Association is increasing its support of the
women’s game with the launch of a new tournament on the Ladies European
Tour Access Series (LETAS).
This
exciting development in women’s golf will see The WPGA International
Challenge supported by Stoke by Nayland Hotel Golf and Spa added to
the LETAS schedule and played at the venue on September 26-28.
The
54-hole tournament, which is the only event on the LETAS schedule to be
played in the United Kingdom, will feature an international field of
120 players competing for a share of the €25,000 prize fund.
There
will be an opportunity for 20 WPGA members to compete in the event.
Winners of each of the remaining five WPGA One Day Series events will
qualify plus Suzanne Dickens, winner at Little Aston yesterday, with the
remaining places secured via a qualifying Order of Merit over the same
period.
In addition, with the support of England Golf, 20 elite female amateurs will also compete in the event.
The
new tournament, which will provide additional playing opportunities for
elite WPGA members and leading English female amateurs, has been widely
welcomed by all involved in bringing the event to fruition.
Di
Barnard, Tour Director of the LET Access Series said: “We are delighted
to announce the addition of the WPGA International Challenge to the
2013 LETAS schedule. There is a very strong golfing community in the UK
and a large representation of players from this region on both the LET
and LETAS.
“We
are looking forward to working with the PGA and also the venue, Stoke
by Nayland Hotel Golf and Spa, which will offer first class facilities
for the players.
“The
LET Access Series was formed to create additional playing opportunities
for female golfers and also to provide an important link between elite
amateur and professional golf. We are also delighted to have the support
of England Golf and will welcome a number of elite English amateurs to
compete in the event.”
The
PGA’s chief executive, Sandy Jones, commented: "We have been discussing
with LET for some time the concept and creation of this event. It
therefore gives me much pleasure to now be able to announce the WPGA
international challenge on the LETAS schedule.
“The
event will of course give a high quality playing opportunity to members
of the WPGA and this is something that we strive to do.
“I
am also very pleased to say that we are presenting the event at Stoke
by Nayland, a venue that is well known to us and has partnered the PGA
on many past occasions to stage great golf events.
“Being within the UK
it presents for our elite level women golfers a great chance to progress
their tournament careers and I take this opportunity to wish them all
good luck and success. "
The
opportunity for England’s leading women amateurs to get valuable
experience has been praised by Nigel Edwards, performance director at
England Golf.
He
said: “England Golf is delighted to be a partner with the LET Access
Tour. The Access Tour provides a valuable opportunity for our top
players as they progress from their amateur career by providing entry to
competitive professional events.
“Stoke
by Nayland will provide a challenging venue and we know the team there
will bring experience from their previous support of the European
Challenge Tour and Senior Tour and deliver an excellent event for
players and spectators alike.”
Situated
in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ on the Suffolk/Essex
border, Stoke by Nayland has the experience of staging European
Challenge Tour, European Senior Tour and PGA Europro events, and is
looking forward to gracing the international golf stage once more as the
only UK destination on the 2013 LETAS schedule.
Labels: Amateur Ladies, Pro Ladies
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