Leading UK golf resort Slaley Hall will host the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship for a third successive year.
The £250,000 tournament – one of only two 72-hole stroke play events on the European Senior Tour – will be played over the Dave Thomas-designed Hunting Course from 24-27 June 2010.
Record Senior Tour money winner Carl Mason, who cruised to a third PGA title last year with a three stroke victory over South African Christopher Williams, is expected to defend his title against a cast of household names.
Among those likely to figure will be Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, who over the past two years have proved crowd favourites at the Northumberland resort.
The announcement comes in the wake of an exciting finale to the 2009 season in which Torrance pipped his fellow former Ryder Cup captain by just €3,380 to lift his third Senior Tour Order of Merit title.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “The PGA Seniors Championship has a long and illustrious history and we’re delighted to be continuing our strong association with De Vere who over the years have been staunch supporters of tournament golf.
“We look forward to seeing some of the biggest names in Seniors golf back at Slaley Hall and hope that golf fans in the north east will continue to support the event.”
The announcement was also welcomed by European Senior Tour managing director Andy Stubbs. “We are all looking forward to returning to De Vere Slaley Hall in 2010, a venue that has been synonymous with the European Senior Tour over the years, as has the De Vere group,” he said.
“Everyone one of our players over 50 would like to add the PGA Seniors Championship to their CV and Carl Mason will certainly be hoping for a successful defence, having previously won the Northumberland Seniors Classic at De Vere Slaley Hall in 2005 and the PGA Seniors Championship over another De Vere course, Carden Park, in 2004.”
Daniel Hodson, Director of Golf & Leisure for De Vere, commented: “We are delighted to continue our support of the PGA Seniors Championship by hosting this prestigious event again in 2010.
“We have enjoyed two fantastic years as title sponsor of the Senior Tour’s flagship event, and it is great that we are able to welcome some of golf’s best known players to the Hunting course again. I am sure that we will have another superb showcase of championship golf next June and I am sure the people in the North-East will enjoy having top quality golf on their doorstep again.”
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