All to play for as North Region bucks trend again

DESPITE the economic gloom the PGA North Region has announced a packed schedule which includes nine Order of Merit tournaments and a record prize-fund of £280,000.

Secretary Graham Maly (below), embarking on his fifth season at the helm, said: “We have bucked the trend in the last two years by introducing new events and all our main sponsors are supporting us again.

“We’ve lost a few pro-ams, which is not unexpected, but I’m confident there will be others in the pipeline, possibly at clubs celebrating centenaries.”

Five ranking events will double up as pro-ams, the Phoenix Gas Classic at Wychwood Park the latest to switch to the popular format.

The others are the Renewable Service Group Pro-am at Cottingham; the Pokerstars Manx Classic at Ramsey; the Kerr Investments Cumbria Classic at Silloth-on-Solway and Carlisle; and the Rocar Moores and Copley Fixby Classic at Huddersfield.

Completing the nine Order of Merit Tournaments are the Spirotech Open at Marriott Worsley Park; James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore; De Vere Leeds Cup at Oulton Hall; and the De Vere PGA North Region Championship at Herons' Reach. Biggest purse is £20,000 for the Cottingham event on May 25-26.

“It was staged as a regional fixture for the first time last year and was a huge success,” added Maly.

As announced last month, the previous policy of running qualifying rounds for the bigger tournaments has been replaced by a Tour School comprising two-day 36-hole events at Normanton and Dunscar in April.

MAIN FIXTURES - May 25-26: Renewable Service Group Cottingham Parks Pro-am (Cottingham); 29-30: Kerr Investments Cumbrian Classic (Silloth-on-Solway & Carlisle). June 20-21: De Vere PGA North Region Championship (Herons' Reach). July 11-12 Phoenix Gas Classic (Wychwood Park); 26-28: Pokerstars Manx Classic (Ramsey); August 14-15: Spirotech Open (Marriott Worsley Park); 22-23: De Vere Leeds Cup (Oulton Hall). September 10-11: James Brearley Lancashire Open (Blackpool North Shore); 16-17: Rocar Moors Classic (Fixby).