Ryder Cup star lines up for Challenge event

Date Published: 31/07/2007

Ian Woosnam's 2006 Ryder Cup vice-captain, Peter Baker, has today announced that he will play in this year’s FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge event which tees off later this week (Thursday, 26th July – Sunday, 29th July) at the Vale Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort.

Baker was named as one of two of Ian Woosnam's vice-captains back in 2005 for The 36th Ryder Cup in Ireland. Baker was still an amateur, but poised to turn professional, when the pair became friends and Woosnam had already established himself on the European Tour.

Baker will not have an easy ride, however, as he will be pitted against a strong Welsh contingent which includes top talents such as Jamie Donaldson, Stuart Manley and Craig Williams. Also in attendance will be France’s Olivier David, who won the FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge event back in 2005.

Cardiff-based secured loan provider FIRSTPLUS is once again title sponsor of this year’s Challenge event following the Welsh company's sponsorship of the Seniors Open last year, and the Challenge event back in 2005 staged at the Vale.

FIRSTPLUS Managing Director, Neil Radley, comments, "As a success story grown out of Wales ourselves, we are delighted to continue our commitment to promoting golf in Wales by sponsoring the Wales Challenge again this year. We are looking forward to seeing the champions of the future and we’re expecting a really exciting tournament."

Last year saw Welshman Sion Bebb secure his first Challenge Tour victory at the Ryder Cup Wales Challenge in Nefyn. He produced an excellent final round of two under par 69 to post a ten under par 274 winning total that won him first prize of 20,800 euros after his one shot victory over Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet.

The FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge is part of the Ryder Cup Wales Summer of Golf, a series of events organised across Wales to promote golf to celebrate the successful bid to host The 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.

Rob Holt, Chief Executive of Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd, said, "One of the main reasons for the Welsh Assembly Government's support for The 2010 Ryder Cup is the enormous economic benefit this world class event can bring to Wales. It is therefore rewarding to see a high profile company like FIRSTPLUS investing in the 'Summer of Golf' programme.

"After hosting the FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge in 2005 and the FIRSTPLUS Seniors Open last year, the Vale Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort has already proven to be a good venue for prestigious golfing events. I look forward to welcoming players back next week and to watching events unfold over the four day competition."

The up and coming stars will aim to produce a high calibre performance in order to get their hands on a share of the 130,000 euros prize fund, as well as earn themselves all important ranking points on the Challenge Tour – the breeding ground for professional golfers aiming to make their mark on the European Tour.

Paul Beddoe, Group Marketing Director at the Vale Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort, said, "This year's event is set to be a fantastic tournament, with golfers of extraordinary talent coming to the Vale Resort to compete for the title. It is particularly exciting to see such a strong field representing Wales on the recently extended Wales National course."