The European Tour is set for a glorious return to Austria after confirmation that the BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria will be played on The 2006 European Tour International Schedule at the stunning Fontana Golf Club on the outskirts of Vienna from 8-11 June. The tournament will feature on The European Tour for the next three seasons.
In 2006, the BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria will offer a prize fund of at least €1 million to the cream of Europe’s professional golfers, including seven time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, who has confirmed his participation in next year’s tournament.
Montgomerie has played an invaluable ambassadorial role in promoting both the BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria and Fontana Golf Club for the past three seasons, having featured in the ‘Super Tuesday‘ exhibition day preceding each Challenge Tour event staged at Fontana Golf Club since 2003.
This year’s ‘Super Tuesday‘ was another huge success, with thousands of spectators flocking to Fontana to see Montgomerie and his victorious 2004 Ryder Cup Captain Bernhard Langer of Germany, as well as Austrian Number One Markus Brier. Such vast crowds, and the suitability of the venue and facilities have convinced Montgomerie of the overwhelming potential Austria possess to stage a first class European Tour event.
“This is a very exciting time to have the Austrian Open back on the International Schedule,” he said, “I am glad to have been part of the organisation that has helped bring the tournament back to Austria. I just think that the course here, the clubhouse, the facilities are all set up for a wonderful tournament and I look forward to competing – everything is here for a great event.
“I think it was a shame that the national Open of Austria had been lost off the calendar for ten years now, but the finance and the course and all that is needed to get the Austrian Open back is now in place and it proves how popular the event is.
“You just have to look at the crowds that came out to see the Super Tuesday event this week. There were so many people here just to watch two groups – imagine what it would be like here with a full European Tour field. It would be fantastic.”
Erich Hampel, chief executive officer of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA), said: “Having been involved in this tournament since 2003, we are very happy to be part of the next stage of the development of the BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria, and we look forward to welcoming the stars of The European Tour to Fontana for what we are sure will be a successful event.”
Keith Waters, Director of International Policy for The European Tour, said, “Fontana is a first class facility, and, with Vienna at the heart of central, Eastern Europe, it is the perfect place to showcase The Tour to many Eastern European markets.”
European Tour www.europeantour.com
Fontana Golf Club www.fontana.at
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