The strong link between Bahrain and the European Seniors Tour will be maintained through The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy, Seniors Tour Championship, which will be played at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in England from November 8-10.
The Seniors Tour Championship, now in its eighth year, has enjoyed two successful years at the Championship Course at Riffa Views in Bahrain, where Ireland’s Des Smyth and England’s Gordon J Brand triumphed in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
This year, however, the course is undergoing a re-design by eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie. With work due to be completed in the summer of 2008, the grand finale to the Seniors Tour season will this year instead move to the Buckinghamshire.
Salih Isa bin Hindi, Advisor to the King of Bahrain, Youth & Sports Affairs commented: “We are very pleased to announce that His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa is delighted to provide his patronage to ‘The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy, Seniors Tour Championship’, which will be held at Buckinghamshire Golf Club while Riffa Views, the venue for the last two years, undergoes a course re-design.
“The patronage from His Majesty the King will maintain Bahrain’s presence on the international sporting stage and in particular its ties with The PGA European Tour; the event will also provide the opportunity for the Kingdom to showcase its current and future developments, whilst strengthening the business and trade relationship between Bahrain and the United Kingdom.”
A prize fund of $500,000 will be on offer for the elite field of 42 players as Carl Mason of England, the current European Seniors Tour Number One, aims to seal his third Order of Merit crown and beat his own record earnings in a season of €354,775, achieved in 2004, and in the process receive the John Jacobs Trophy awarded to the leading money winner.
Ben Hatton, Chief Executive Officer of SP Middle East, said: “As the tournament promoter we are delighted to maintain our link with the Kingdom of Bahrain and are very grateful to His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his gracious patronage of the event. We have enjoyed two exciting years in Bahrain with two great champions in Des Smyth and Gordon J Brand and we look forward to returning to the Kingdom in the coming years.
“For this year, our thanks must go to Buckinghamshire Golf Club for providing such an outstanding venue and we look forward to crowning another worthy Seniors Tour Championship winner”.
Mr Naoki Matsui, Managing Director of Buckinghamshire Golf Club, said: “We are delighted that Buckinghamshire Golf Club is once again hosting the Seniors Tour’s grand finale.
“We extend a very warm welcome to the King of Bahrain, His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who secured the Tournament with the European Seniors Tour.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of our facilities and thoroughly look forward to watching the best of the 2007 European Seniors Tour players compete on our challenging John Jacobs layout.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “The Kingdom of Bahrain, and specifically Riffa Views, has provided a dramatic climax for our end of season showpiece for the last two years, and we are delighted to be able to maintain our strong relationship with Bahrain through The Kingdom of Bahrain, Seniors Tour Championship at Buckinghamshire Golf Club.
“We would like to express our sincere appreciation to His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his continued support and we also thank SP Middle East for promoting the event for the successive third year.
Buckinghamshire Golf Club is no stranger to the European Seniors Tour having hosted the Senior Tournament of Champions for five years from 1996, and we thank them for hosting what is sure to be another thrilling conclusion to the season at this world-class venue.”
The Seniors Tour finale was held at Buckinghamshire Golf Club from 1996 to 2000. The course, designed by John Jacobs, is set in 226 acres of magnificent English parkland, bounded to the east by the River Colne and to the west lies the historic village of Denham.
Admission to the event and all car parking are free of charge. For further information about The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy, the Seniors Tour Championship, please visit the “Tournament” page on www.europeantour.com
For further information, please contact:-
The European Tour Communications Division
Tel: +44 1344 840400 Fax: +44 1344 840444
e-mail: media@europeantour.com
Gordon Simpson
Director of Communications
PGA European Tour
Wentworth Drive | Virginia Water | Surrey | GU25 4LX | UNITED KINGDOM
Tel : +44 (0) 1344 840 454
www.europeantour.com
