The Yorkshire Professional Golfers Association holds its annual Championship on Tuesday 15th & Wednesday the 16th June at Willow Valley Golf for the 10th consecutive year next week.
This major tournament in the golfing calendar will see 100 to 120 of the regions top professional golfers teeing off for the coveted Yorkshire P. G. A .Trophy and the £2000 first prize. On the 16th June, the top 66 scores and ties from the first day will go out in score order, with a sudden death ‘play off’ on the 18th hole, if at the end of play the scores are tied.
A Pro-am event brings the tournament to a close on the 17th June. Up to 30 teams will take part, each vying for the £500 first prize.
The championship was held at Fulford Golf Club, York for seven years prior to it moving to Willow Valley in 2001 and can also boast hosting such prestigious tournaments as The Martini International and The Benson And Hedges International.
The winner is presented with a trophy specially commissioned by Mr & Mrs Newton, owners of Willow Valley. The trophy is a solid silver salver and has been hand engraved with a view of the 2nd hole on the Willow Valley course. The trophy can be viewed in the clubhouse alongside all the names of the tournament winners since it began over 75 years ago. Recent holders of the trophy include names such as Gordon Brand who now challenges regularly on the European & US seniors tour.
A cheque for £2000 will be handed over to the triumphant winner at a special dinner held in the club house on the evening of the 17th June. The prize fund of £5000 is the biggest in the Yorkshire region and has given the event a home worthy of championship golf, which the club is duly proud of. The club’s Willow Valley course is where the 36 hole stroke play event will take place with the course pushed to its maximum length of 7034yards of the professional Blue Tees an extra 500yards more than the members competition tees.
Commenting, Willow Valley’s own Club Professional, Julian Haworth says: “The course this year is in the best condition I have seen during my 15 year association with Willow Valley Golf, it makes you proud to be a part of it all. This event is a great test for professional golfers, some of who will still have ambitions to make it on the European Tour. The 7000 yard plus course, with 11 lakes and streams along with undulating greens certainly makes Willow Valley a good test for any golf Professional looking to make the big step up to the tournament ranks.”
In the all 8 previous years the championship has been held at Willow Valley the lowest winning score has been 145 , 1 over par. The course record for Professionals was set in 2003, a score of 70 (2 under par) for 18 holes from the Blue tees by Nigel Parkinson (Dore & Totley GC).
Jonathan Gaunt, one of Europe’s leading golfing architects designed the 7030 yard course to challenge the skill of the most experienced golfer and it includes numerous water hazards, with the 6th hole having a rock face and water guarding the green making it difficult to get near the pin to make birdie, whilst the island green on the 14th hole has the golfer deciding whether to lay up or go for the green.
Anyone interested in entering the Pro-Am competition should contact the Yorkshire P. G. A. or Willow Valley Golf Club. The entry fee is £210 per team (3 amateurs and one professional), this includes a meal , professionals can be provided.
This major tournament in the golfing calendar will see 100 to 120 of the regions top professional golfers teeing off for the coveted Yorkshire P. G. A .Trophy and the £2000 first prize. On the 16th June, the top 66 scores and ties from the first day will go out in score order, with a sudden death ‘play off’ on the 18th hole, if at the end of play the scores are tied.
A Pro-am event brings the tournament to a close on the 17th June. Up to 30 teams will take part, each vying for the £500 first prize.
The championship was held at Fulford Golf Club, York for seven years prior to it moving to Willow Valley in 2001 and can also boast hosting such prestigious tournaments as The Martini International and The Benson And Hedges International.
The winner is presented with a trophy specially commissioned by Mr & Mrs Newton, owners of Willow Valley. The trophy is a solid silver salver and has been hand engraved with a view of the 2nd hole on the Willow Valley course. The trophy can be viewed in the clubhouse alongside all the names of the tournament winners since it began over 75 years ago. Recent holders of the trophy include names such as Gordon Brand who now challenges regularly on the European & US seniors tour.
A cheque for £2000 will be handed over to the triumphant winner at a special dinner held in the club house on the evening of the 17th June. The prize fund of £5000 is the biggest in the Yorkshire region and has given the event a home worthy of championship golf, which the club is duly proud of. The club’s Willow Valley course is where the 36 hole stroke play event will take place with the course pushed to its maximum length of 7034yards of the professional Blue Tees an extra 500yards more than the members competition tees.
Commenting, Willow Valley’s own Club Professional, Julian Haworth says: “The course this year is in the best condition I have seen during my 15 year association with Willow Valley Golf, it makes you proud to be a part of it all. This event is a great test for professional golfers, some of who will still have ambitions to make it on the European Tour. The 7000 yard plus course, with 11 lakes and streams along with undulating greens certainly makes Willow Valley a good test for any golf Professional looking to make the big step up to the tournament ranks.”
In the all 8 previous years the championship has been held at Willow Valley the lowest winning score has been 145 , 1 over par. The course record for Professionals was set in 2003, a score of 70 (2 under par) for 18 holes from the Blue tees by Nigel Parkinson (Dore & Totley GC).
Jonathan Gaunt, one of Europe’s leading golfing architects designed the 7030 yard course to challenge the skill of the most experienced golfer and it includes numerous water hazards, with the 6th hole having a rock face and water guarding the green making it difficult to get near the pin to make birdie, whilst the island green on the 14th hole has the golfer deciding whether to lay up or go for the green.
Anyone interested in entering the Pro-Am competition should contact the Yorkshire P. G. A. or Willow Valley Golf Club. The entry fee is £210 per team (3 amateurs and one professional), this includes a meal , professionals can be provided.
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