Defending Champion Ashley Hall was one of the big names to miss the cut at the 2010 Subaru Victorian Open at Spring Valley Golf Club.
Subaru has again agreed to be the naming rights sponsor of the 2010 Victorian Open Championship to be held at Spring Valley Golf Club from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th January.
Being the first Australasian PGA Tour event in the New Year, it’s expected that a quality field will be participating for prizemoney of approximately $115,000.
First played in 1957, the Victorian Open honour role boasts a virtual who’s who of Australian golf and has provided the initial major tournament break through opportunity for numerous talented young players, including this year’s winner in Ashley Hall.
Announcing the ongoing tournament support for the next wave of Australian golfing talent, Subaru Dealer Principal Gary Watson said;
“Subaru is closely aligned with its community, and supporting sporting development at grass roots level allows us to extend that alignment. It is this commitment to supporting diverse elements of the community – not only the sporting elements – that has seen us maintain our commitment through the financial crisis. We look forward to this event and to the success and future opportunities that it creates for the VGA and the competitors”.
VGA President John Hobday commented that “Victorian men’s golf is undoubtedly riding the crest of a wave at the current time with around a dozen Victorians set to compete on either the US or European Tours next year, including our new star Marc Leishman. The new breed is also coming through, highlighted by our State and Colts teams recently winning the Australian Interstate Teams Matches in emphatic fashion.”
“Team members such as current Australian and New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play champion Bryden Macpherson and Daniel Beckmann, runner-up at this year’s Australian Amateur, are the professional stars of tomorrow.”
“Ashley Hall will defend his title at Spring Valley against a field that will include seasoned Australasian PGA Tour professionals as well as many fine young players looking to make a mark. The quality of talent emerging at the Subaru Vic Open is truly exciting and we’re glad Subaru has joined in to support this important journey.”
PGA Chief Executive Officer Max Garske reflected this sentiment in stating “Since its beginnings the Victorian Open has produced a long line of champion golfers, many of whom have gone on to achieve great success on the world stage.”
“Some of Australia’s greatest champions including Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Ian Baker- Finch and Robert Allenby all have their name engraved on this prestigious trophy, and the PGA is proud to have this tournament back on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule in 2010.”