Exciting season ahead for the East

The PGA in England (East) has confirmed an exciting playing schedule for 2019, including four Order of Merit tournaments, three long-established Classics and more than 30 pro-ams.

Jason Levermore (Little Channels Golf Centre) will start his defence of both his Order of Merit crown and the London Open title at West Essex on June 11.

Already a prominent tournament in the schedule, the London Open promises to be even bigger and better in 2019 when it will be held in partnership with the PGA in England (South).

The remodelled co-sanctioned event will include 72 players from each region and be extended from 36 to 54 holes. The top-50 and ties from the opening two rounds will make the cut for the final day’s play.

Ingrebourne Links will stage the second Order of Merit event on August 6. It will be the second time the North course at the impressive Essex venue will play host to an Order of Merit tournament.

The East Region Championship will once again be staged at Bishop’s Stortford from September 4-5. And, as in 2018, the race to finish in the top-three will conclude with the KJW Millbrook Masters incorporating the East Anglian Open at Millbrook on September 18-19.

The traditional seasonal curtain-raiser, the Searles PGA Spring Classic, is scheduled for April 24-25 at King’s Lynn ad Hunstanton. The Summer Classic will, as usual, be staged at Royal Cromer and Sheringham on July 2-3. The Marston’s Beer Autumn Classic takes place at Felixstowe Ferry and Woodbridge from September 26-27.

Other key dates for the year include the regional members’ meeting and AGM on February 13, the Overseas Pro-Am at Vilamoura from March 29-31 and the Marston’s Beer Trainees’ Championship at Bishop’s Stortford on August 12.

PGA regional manager Gordon Campbell said: “We are all looking forward to the 2019 season and are pleased to publish another strong schedule.

“A new development is that the London Open will become a co-sanctioned tournament with the PGA in England (South) in 2019. From its inaugural staging in 2016 we identified the London Open as an event with considerable growth potential.

“And we believe that partnering with the South region opens up considerable opportunities for it to go from strength to strength in the future.

“Ingrebourne Links impressed everyone who played in its inaugural Order of Merit event last year. I have no doubt this exciting venue will continue to swiftly develop and we are delighted to be returning there this August.

“Bishop’s Stortford is always a great test, invariably producing a quality champion, and we’ll anticipate the same at this year’s East Region Championship in September.
“The 2019 KJW Millbrook Masters will have added gravitas this year as it incorporates our longest-established event, the East Anglian Open.

“Overall, we have a varied and busy schedule and we look forward to seeing many of our Members and their friends over the coming year.”

You can view the full 2019 schedule for the east region by CLICKING HERE.