Part of previous BMW action.

By CORRESPONDENT

A record prize fund of €4.75million, an increase of €250,000 on last year, will be at stake for The European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship 2013, at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, from May 23-26.

This year’s champion will receive €791,660, which is over €40,000 more than England’s Luke Donald collected for his second consecutive BMW PGA Championship success in 2012 when he finished four strokes clear of joint runners-up Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Donald’s compatriot, Justin Rose.

The total prize fund has grown by €750,000 – and the first prize by just over €125,000 – in the eight years since BMW became a Partner in the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in 2005, when then US Open Champion Angel Cabrera picked up the first prize of €666,000 after claiming a two shot victory over 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The BMW PGA Championship is our Tour’s flagship event and it is important that the prize fund reflects that status. This increase to €4.75 million, offering a cheque of just under €800,000 to the 2013 champion, underlines the importance of the Championship as a key component in the season-long Race to Dubai.”

Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW UK, said: “We value our long-term partnership with The European Tour and Wentworth Club in helping to develop the BMW PGA Championship as one of the most prestigious events in world golf. The increase in the prize fund to €4.75 million reflects this status and we look forward to another successful edition of the Championship in May.”

The 2013 BMW PGA Championship will boast one of the strongest fields on The European Tour International Schedule, with many of the world’s best players in action over the famous West Course at Wentworth Club. All four days will be broadcast live on Sky Sports with highlights on BBC.

The Championship is set to deliver an enhanced spectator experience this year as Europe’s Ryder Cup Team, triumphant from the ‘Miracle in Medinah’, regroup for the first time competitively on British soil at Wentworth Club.

A superb package of fun, celebrity-spotting and world class golf will take place over a six-day period, from May 21-26, representing outstanding value for practice day, celebrity pro-am day and the four rounds of the event. Advance ticket and hospitality packages, including 18^th green grandstand seating and limited on-site parking, are available now on www.europeantour.com/tickets. Children aged 16 and under will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult ticket holder.

This year sees the introduction of a new Park and Ride system to help facilitate the flow of traffic. The system will operate from two locations – one near Sunningdale, carrying traffic from the West (M3 and M4) and one at the Review Ground, Windsor Great Park, which is East of the tournament venue close to the M25. Both parks will operate free shuttle bus service to Wentworth Club every five minutes with the journey time taking around ten minutes and allowing easy access to a new Welcome Entrance through the Tented Village. canada goose france canada goose france

By DONALD WELLINGTON

Kenya’s lady golfers converge at Limuru Country Club this weekend for the annual Eileen Belcher Trophy, one of the major tournaments organised by the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU).

The tournament is seen as of great significance to KLGU as it will be used to select players to represent Kenya in the Gilbertson and Page Trophy played between Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe at Muthaiga Golf Club and Karen Country Club in June.

The Eileen Belcher Trophy, which is a match-play tournament and will be played on both Saturday and Sunday. Some of the top players expected to dominate the event are youngster Naomi Wafula and Mary Monari both from Rose Naliaka Foundation as well as former lady golfer of the year Mary Karanu of Vet Lab and home lady golfer Mwongeli Nzioka.

The tournament which has been taking place annually for the last 76 years, will this year be sponsored by Kenya Orient. It can be termed as the equivalent the Tannahill Shield for men golfers.

The Eileen Belcher Trophy, originally known as the Inter District Cup, was presented to Eileen Belcher, the first chairperson of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union in 1937. A number of changes have taken place over the years with the districts now known as Zones.

There are four Zones, Red, Yellow, Blue and Green each formed by players from a number of clubs forming a team of three pairs with a reserve player.

Scoring is 2 points for a match won and 1 for a halved (draw) match and the format is foursomes, matchplay off scratch for all the divisions.

This year the Red Zone will comprise of players from Windsor, Railway, Golf Park and Western Region. The Yellow Zone will have golfers from Vet Lab, Limuru, Thika and Kiambu. The Blue Zone will have Karen, Royal Nairobi, Central region and Green Zone will have players from Muthaiga, Coast region and Sigona. golden goose femme golden goose femme