Powerade has extended its relationship with The Professional Golfers‘ Association after renewing their sponsorship of the PGA Assistants’ Championship.
The sports drink manufacturer has agreed a new three-year contract which will extend their support of the country’s leading tournament for aspiring golf professionals to nine years having first sponsored it in 2004.
It cements a strong relationship between the PGA and Powerade, which actively seeks to support all of the PGA’s professionals.
The title sponsorship covers regional qualifying events across the PGA’s seven regions plus the grand final which was staged at The London Club for a fifth successive year this month where Jonathan Lupton from Close House near Newcastle won his second title in three years. The event is also supported by FootJoy who provide shoes for each of the qualifiers for the final as well as golf balls and gloves.
The Assistants’ Championship is one of the PGA’s oldest tournaments, predating the Masters, having first being contested at Moseley Golf Club in 1930.
Since then some of golf’s most illustrious names have won the title including Ryder Cup captains Tony Jacklin, Dai Rees, Harry Weetman, Bernard Hunt as well as Ryder Cup players Peter Alliss, Neil Coles and Barry Lane.
Each year up to a thousand PGA registered assistants battle it out for the prestigious title which carries a £5,000 first prize and entry into the Australian equivalent championships.
PGA Chief Executive, Sandy Jones said: “All of us here at The PGA are excited by this extended commitment from Powerade to support the Assistants’ Championship, one of the most valuable titles in the Association’s collection of golf tournaments. Our relationship with Powerade represents a strong partnership which benefits all our members.”
Coca-Cola‘s Account Controller, Richard Baldwin said "We are delighted at Coca-Cola to be extending our relationship with the PGA for a further three years and hope that the sponsorship of the Assistants‘ Championship ensures it goes from strength to strength supporting the golfers of our future"
PGA www.pga.info