PGA Members will be able to take advantage of even more playing opportunities with the introduction of a new qualifying series that will offer more places in the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, significant prize funds and even exemption into the final stage of qualifying school for the Legends Tour.
This enhanced collaboration with the Legends Tour builds on the existing relationship which sees 15 spots for the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship being available to the top 15 finishers in the Senior PGA Professional Championship.
Played during July and August, the new Staysure Q-Series Order of Merit will consist of four 36-hole strokeplay events – with two being organised by The PGA and two by The 1836 Tour. Points will be awarded to the leading players in each event, with each player’s best three points results counting towards the Order of Merit.
The top three eligible players not otherwise exempt in this Order of Merit will qualify for the 2023 Staysure PGA Seniors Championship on the Legends Tour, replacing the previous Monday qualifier. The top five eligible players not otherwise exempt will earn an exemption into the Final Stage of the 2024 Legends Tour Senior Qualifying School.
The guaranteed prize fund for the Q-Series is £20,000 for PGA events, with up to £13,000 at the 1836 Tour events.
The two 1836 Tour events are at Bramall Park on July 2nd-3rd, and Mottram Hall on July 16th-17th. The two PGA events are at Oulton Hall on August 8th-9th, and Slaley Hall (Priestman) on August 15th-16th.
The locations for the first year are mainly around the North of England for reasons of scheduling and availability, but the events in subsequent years will be more geographically varied.
Richard Barker, Executive Director Business Development said: “We are delighted to introduce this new series for Senior PGA Members. It represents some excellent new playing opportunities with significant prize funds attached. We’re excited to get this started and look forward to a successful partnership with the Legends Tour.
“Of course, we do appreciate and recognise the challenges around scheduling and locations in this first year and the last-minute nature of the communication, but it was felt that the opportunity to bring these events into the 2023 schedule was just too good to pass up. Moving forward, we will address and correct those issues and look forward to this becoming a popular series that provides even more opportunities to PGA Members.”
The entry fee for each event is £150, and the maximum field size varies depending on the organiser. For events run by The 1836 Tour, the maximum field size is 84 players. For events run by The PGA, the maximum field size at Oulton Hall will be 120, while at Slaley Hall it will be 156 players.
The events are open to all professional golfers and amateurs with a maximum handicap index of 1.0 who are aged 50 and over on July 31, 2024. However, only those aged 50 or over on the date of the 2023 PGA Seniors Championship will be eligible to qualify for spots in that championship (23rd August).
To clarify, it should also be said that there will be no issue with releases for PGA events that clash with the two 1836 Tour events as they form part of the wider Series.
All entries into the two PGA-run event (Oulton Hall and Slaley Hall) should be made online by CLICKING HERE.
CLICK HERE to enter the two 1836 Tour events (Bramall Park and Mottram Hall).
CLICK HERE for further information and all the terms and conditions.
