SkyCaddie back new PGA Inter County Championship

Counties across England and Wales are to go head-to-head as the PGA launch a brand new team eventS – the PGA England & Wales Inter County Championship sponsored by SkyCaddie.

Three leading PGA Professionals from each county will do battle in their region to qualify for the £10,000 36-hole final, which will be held on the PGA National, at The Belfry on October 14-15.

The tournament is open to every county in England and Wales this year, with the finalists decided via five regional qualifiers across the country. The best two scores in each round from the three-man team will decide the team score in both the qualifiers and the final. The leading player from each county, based on each county’s selection method, will also receive £250.

Midland Counties will feature the first of the quintet of qualifiers on Wednesday August 14 at Stapleford Park, Leicestershire with Nazeing Golf Club in Essex staging the qualifier for counties from across the PGA in England (East) on Tuesday, August 27.

Exeter Golf & Country Club, Devon, will stage the West qualifier on Monday September 9. Windlesham Golf Club will host South professionals on Friday August 23, while North hopefuls will tee up at Bolton Golf Club on Monday September 30.

The tournament will also see a welcome return to PGA Partner SkyCaddie, the world’s No.1 range finder, as title sponsor having previously backed other PGA national tournaments.

Skycaddie director of international business operations Jacqui Surman said: “Skycaddie is pleased to be sponsoring the PGA in England & Wales Inter County Championship. We believe in the PGA Professional and all that they stand for in golf.

“It is important that we support them at local county level and help enhance the work they do in their local area. We look forward to giving the events and each county our support in 2013.”

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones welcomed the new addition to the PGA national tournament schedule, commenting: “This is an exciting new opportunity embracing the counties and with plenty of regional pride at stake I’m sure it will be a keenly contested tournament.

“I’m also delighted to continue our long and successful association with SkyCaddie who have been a strong supporter of The PGA and who enjoy a great business relationship with many of our members at grass roots level.”

The tournament is part of a wide-ranging national schedule for PGA Members which tees off with the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northants County next week.