Elite golf returns to Horsham in 2018
The Western Open promises to be a golf Tournament like no other, bringing together the best from the Ladbrokes PGA Pro-Am series and Golf Victoria’s Ivo Whitton and Susie Tolhurst amateur events.
In a first for the Ladbrokes PGA Pro-Am series, the winner should they be a Professional, will gain a start in the 2019 Vic Open. Whilst the Professionals will be playing for the chance to play in the Vic Open, the state’s leading amateurs will playing for Ivo Whitton and Susie Tolhurst amateurs points, part of Golf Victoria’s year long, state wide amateur series.
This is the first time Golf Victoria and the PGA have combined two of their own Tournaments into one event and it was David Greenhill, Golf Victoria’s Chief Operating Officer who was fully behind the new concept.
“Over the past 12 months, Golf Victoria has undertaken a similar event pathway via offering conditional amateur exemptions to the Vic Open through four, 72-hole amateur events conducted at Portsea, Cobram-Barooga, Port Fairy/Warrnambool and Traralgon. The introduction of the Western Open takes this initiative one step further by providing professional players with an opportunity to win their way directly into the Vic Open.”
The 36-hole event will be played at the Horsham Golf Club, long regarded as one of the very best golf courses in country Victoria on October 6 and 7, 2018. Leading into the Tournament, Horsham Golf Club will be the focus of the local community with a family fun day to be held on Friday the 5th of October. There will be free MyGolf kids clinics, woman’s Swing Fit sessions, beginner lessons and master classes all hosted by the PGA professionals playing over the weekend. The Friday afternoon will see local business and corporate sponsors have a chance to get up close and personal with the players when they tee it up alongside the Professionals.
This event could not have been made possible without the support of the Horsham Rural City Council and their Mayor, Cr Pam Clarke is delighted to welcome this one of a kind Tournament to the region.
“As the Mayor of the Horsham Rural City Council, it will be a real privilege to welcome the golfing professionals, high level amateurs, their caddies, partners and the officials to Horsham for what will be an elite event.”
“It has been many years since Horsham hosted such a prestigious event and shows that the Horsham Golf Course is still regarded a premium golfing facility.”
“I really looking forward to getting to Horsham and showcasing the great course here during Tournament play” added Heath McLeod, Tournament Coordinator for the PGA of Australia.
“We must also recognise the support of Simon Brookhouse and David Greenhill at Golf Victoria. When I first met with them about the concept they couldn’t have been more supportive”
“This is the only Pro-Am in our Ladbrokes Pro-Am series that, on top of the prize money has such a great playing opportunity at stake for our players.”
“This is sure to attract huge interest from our Professionals around the country. The Vic Open is a tier one event on the ISPS HANDA Tour of Australasia and the chance to get a start in it from winning an event like The Western Open has just never happened before in Victoria”