Wales - Host Nation for The 2010 Ryder Cup
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Challenge chance for any Welsh pro
The SWALEC Wales Challenge is to imitate the Open Championship by offering qualifying, so any Welsh professional has the chance to follow in the footsteps of European Tour star Rhys Davies.
Qualifying events are rare in top level golf these days, but any Welsh professionals who are not otherwise eligible to play in the event will get their chance to claim one of three remaining places on Monday, 23rd August, on the Wales National course at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, with the main tournament starting two days later on August 25th.
Last year Davies was a home winner of the SWALEC Wales Challenge to help launch his European Tour career, which has since seen him claim the Trophée Hassan II and a top 10 place in The Race to Dubai Rankings.
Craig Smith, Kyron Sullivan, Mark Laskey and Tim Dykes are the players who have already been given invites this year to play some events on the Challenge Tour, the circuit below the main PGA European Tour, including the SWALEC Wales Challenge.
“Rhys Davies competed in this event thanks to a Ryder Cup Wales invite, as he was playing on the Asian Tour at the time,” explained Ryder Cup Wales Chief Executive, Rob Holt.
“He won in a play-off and secured a place on the Challenge Tour which he used to gain a place on the full European Tour. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and he provides the perfect example to show what this event can do if you have the talent.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Welsh professionals to play a top quality championship in Wales.
“We have already given invites to some Welsh professionals with a proven pedigree in the game, but that still leaves three invites available and we wanted to allocate them as fairly as possible.
“What could be better than a qualifying event, with all the drama and excitement that it will involve. Also anyone who can show they are playing well so close to the event itself will have a very good chance of carrying that form with them into the main competition on the same course.
“Hopefully this will allow us to make the most of these unique opportunities for Welsh golf professionals and follow in the footsteps of Craig Williams, Sion Bebb and Rhys who have all won the event on home soil.”
The chance to play in the SWALEC Wales Challenge event, as well as a series of others throughout Europe, is one of the benefits received by Wales as part of hosting The 38th Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort later this year.
For anyone to enter qualifying for the SWALEC Wales Challenge, they have to be a professional golfer and have Welsh nationality, either through birth, a Welsh parent or grandparent, or to be deemed Welsh when entering professional events.
There are three places available and entry costs £25, with entry forms available from Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd, e-mail amy.watkins@rydercupwales2010.com or by calling 02920 475231. Closing date for entries is Wednesday, 28th July.