The European Senior Tour and Prostate Cancer UK have agreed a ground-breaking initiative for the charity to become the new title sponsor of the Scottish Senior Open.
In an innovative move, the charity will put its name to this well-established event on the Senior Tour, with the primary aim of the partnership to raise money for the charity and to increase awareness of prostate cancer amongst golfers at the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open, which takes place at Archerfield Links Golf Club, from 27-29 August 2015.
More than 40,000 men in the UK, including 2,900 in Scotland*, are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, making it the most common type of cancer among men.
Men over the age of 50 are more at risk of developing prostate cancer – the same age that players become eligible to join the Senior Tour, making the association a natural one for both parties.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “Prostate Cancer will affect one in eight men in the UK during their lifetime, so clearly it is something that our membership and their friendship groups should be aware of. With Prostate Cancer UK having its name included in the title of the Scottish Senior Open, we hope we can help raise awareness to a key demographic and at the same time provide funds to support the charity’s good work.
“We have seen the magnificent achievements of the Men United campaign across football, rugby league and many other sports, and we hope this relationship will help golf play its part in making a difference in men’s health.
“The tournament will be a Pro-Am format, similar to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on The European Tour, and we hope this unique format will allow individuals and sponsors the opportunity to participate in the tournament to help deliver this important message to a wide audience. With the quality facilities provided to us at Archerfield Links, it promises to be a fun event all in aid of a good cause.”
Prostate Cancer UK’s Director of Fundraising, Mark Bishop said: “Our presence across sport continues to grow and we’re really excited about teeing up this new partnership with our friends from the European Senior Tour.
“Golf is a great fit for us at Prostate Cancer UK. From tee to green, it offers men that opportunity to talk openly and frankly with their mates outside the shackles of every day life.
“Men United is about men joining together to fight a common opponent – prostate cancer – and do something great together to beat it. One man dies every hour from this disease, but it’s been proven by taking this issue to sporting venues up and down the land that we are starting to make a difference.
“Through the stellar work from club captains across the UK, our message is spreading throughout golf and to be able to work side by side with the game’s primary organisation on these shores offers a fantastic opportunity to further drive change.”
Since it was launched 12 months ago, Men United has caught the imagination for change in men’s health – with more than 200,000 people signing up to pledge support. Men from all walks of life, from footballers to lawyers, and politicians to plumbers, have formed a growing army, raising funds to find the answers for the future through research and supporting men now. The Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open will help further increase awareness of the campaign and the charity.
With a prize fund of £250,000 the tournament will have a field of 60 European Senior Tour professionals, who will play alongside an amateur partner for the first two rounds before the professionals contest the final round on Saturday, August 29.
Archerfield Links previously hosted the Ladies Scottish Open from 2010 to 2014, while it also hosts an annual charity Pro-Am event each June in conjunction with Senior Tour player Ian Woosnam.
The Fidra Links course, which will host the Scottish Senior Open, was designed by Senior Tour Committee Chairman David J Russell, one of Woosnam’s assistant captains at The 2006 Ryder Cup, who is one of Archerfield Links’ two Touring Professionals, along with Catriona Matthew.
Tom Younger, CEO of Archerfield Links said: “We are delighted to have Prostate Cancer UK as part of the Scottish Senior Open at Archerfield. With so many men across the UK affected by this disease we hope that this partnership can help raise awareness within the golfing community of the great work done by this charity.”
This year’s Scottish Senior Open, which is supported by VisitScotland, will be the 23rd edition of the event. First played at Royal Aberdeen in 1993, the tournament has also been held at Newmachar, Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, The Roxburghe, and Fairmont St Andrews, which was the venue for the past six editions.
Former Scottish Senior Open champions include Tommy Horton (1993, 1997), Brian Huggett (1995), Neil Coles (1999), Sam Torrance (2006), and Barry Lane (2010, 2011), while Englishman Mark Davis claimed his maiden Senior Tour title at Fairmont St Andrews last year.
Details relating to sponsorship, Pro-am teams and the purchase of individual amateur places in the tournament, are available by registering via the website using info.senior@europeantour.com
Ticket information is available via www.europeantour.com and to sign up for Men United visit http://menunited.prostatecanceruk.org/
*ISD Scotland. Prostate Cancer. NHS Board Area of Residence: trends in incidence 1988-2012 [Internet]. 2014. Available from: https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/2014-04-29/i_cancer_male_genital_organs.xls
European Tour www.europeantour.com
East Lothian – Scotland’s Golf Coast www.golfeastlothian.com
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