NEWS. Dundonald Links to host Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015

Dundonald Links to host Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015

21 August 2014

The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland is to be staged at Dundonald Links in 2015.

The announcement was made at a press conference today by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond as he opened discussions with Aberdeen Asset Management (AAM) and the European Tour to extend AAM’s sponsorship of the Scottish Open until 2020.

The First Minister also announced that the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland will be rescheduled and take a prime spot in the Ladies European Tour calendar from next year.

The high profile tournament will immediately precede the Women’s British Open from 2015, mirroring the current set up on The Men’s European Tour. The unique agreement by tournament promoters WSM Communications, has created a successful strategy for the development of the championship and will result in an increased prize fund to €500,000.

The tournament has grown in stature since it was established in 2007 thanks to funding from Aberdeen Asset Management and EventScotland.

The First Minister said:

“The Scottish Open now attracts the world’s top players as the challenge of the links game is viewed as the perfect preparation for the following week’s Open Championship. In fact, we can now claim that the past four winners, including Rory McIlory this year, have all taken part in the Scottish Open the week before – Scotland is the key to Open glory!

“The movement of the Ladies Scottish Open will place the tournament in a similar position and raises the profile of the women’s game, which is currently flourishing in Scotland. Catriona Matthew, the defending Ladies’ Scottish Open champion, continues to act as a wonderful ambassador for our game, Kylie Walker is the leading Scot in Europe, and Carly Booth, Vikki Laing and Pamela Pretswell continue to light up the game.

“I am confident that the test of Dundonald Links will prove to be a huge draw for more top female golfers to come to Scotland and hone their links game.”

Anne Richards, CIO of Aberdeen Asset Management said: “Today is an important landmark for Aberdeen Asset Management and for Scottish Golf. Everyone at Aberdeen is thrilled to continue our sponsorship of the Ladies’ Scottish Open. As a company we are strong believers in equality and our support of the Scottish Open events demonstrates our commitment to both the men and women’s game alike. Our association with these tournaments helps to raise our brand profile not just in the UK but internationally, including the USA, a market which is a key focus for us as our business grows. We look forward to welcoming some of the world’s top players to Dundonald next year.”

Bill Donald, General Manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links said: “Both Loch Lomond and Dundonald Links have experience of hosting professional and amateur tournaments and we are delighted to play host to the high profile Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open. This is a tremendous achievement for Dundonald Links and we look forward to extending a very warm welcome to everyone involved with the tournament.

Dundonald Links, situated near the legendary golfing town of Troon is a classic and challenging links style golf course, designed by revered architect Kyle Phillips. The renowned Ayrshire links, which is the sister course of Loch Lomond, became the first Scottish course to be used as a venue for a European Tour Qualifying School event when it hosted one of the six Stage 1 qualifying tournaments in 2007. The course has since gone on to host a number of prestigious professional and amateur events, including most recently the 2014 Boys Amateur Championship. This year Dundonald Links has been recognised for its commitment to environmental sustainability and best practice with two prestigious accolades. The Club was awarded the title of ‘UK Environmental Golf Course of the Year’ by the world’s leading sports turf consultancy, the STRI, and in addition the course achieved golf’s international ecolabel GEO Certified™ – a trusted symbol of great golf environments worldwide.


Contact:

Guy Redford – Director of Golf

Tel: +44 (0) 1294 314000

Fax: +44 (0) 1294 314 001

Email: reservations@dundonaldlinks.com

Website: www.dundonaldlinks.com

Fonte IAGTO