The EGU have announced an unchanged schedule of tournaments and championships that will form the basis for the 2007 PING/EGU Order of Merit. The schedule underwent a comprehensive restructuring prior to the 2006 season and the new format has been well received by players and officials alike.
"We have received many positive comments on the way the new structure worked in 2006," commented Peter Mattsson, EGU Director of Coaching. "There is always conjecture on how certain tournaments are rated and why we include them but we feel the system has worked well in 2006 and produced a very worthy winner in Ross McGowan who will be competing on the Challenge Tour this season."
Mattsson continued, "We now have a balanced list of 25 tournaments throughout the golfing season and the points system is weighted correctly to award those that perform admirably. Opportunities exist for all top-level English amateur golfers to compete and score points, the winner of which will reflect the best performances over the season purely in the events listed."
Whilst the playing schedule remains unchanged there has been a minor upward adjustment to further reward County Champions competing in the EGU Champion of Champions event at the end of the season.
Mattsson added, "We recognise the value of the 34 County Unions and by increasing the category of the Champion of Champions event we can further reward the players that have supported their County Championship and perform well at Woodhall Spa. The balance of the schedule and the awarding of points that was so successful in 2006 is still maintained."
PING Europe Marketing Manager said, "PING Europe is delighted to offer continued support the EGU’s coaching team. The Order of Merit is an excellent programme that not only recognises England’s best players but also motivates them to go on and become the best in the world."
Previous PING/EGU Order of Merit winners include Gary Wolstenholme, who last month was awarded an MBE for Services to Sport, Matthew Richardson who has just joined the ISM stable of top golfers, and Gary Lockerbie who is currently playing on the European Tour.
Details of the tournaments included in the PING/EGU Order of Merit and the latest leader board can be found in the England Teams section of the EGU website.
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For further information please contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500
EDITORS NOTES
The English Golf Union Limited (EGU) has served as the governing body of male amateur golf in England since it was founded in 1924.
Responsible for the training of England’s top amateur golfers the EGU organises all the major English amateur championships.
Based at the National Golf Centre in Woodhall Spa, the EGU is one of the largest sports governing bodies in England looking after the interests of over 1,900 golf clubs and 740,000 club members. The EGU also works to increase the continued interest and participation in golf through their golf development initiative ‘Get into Golf’ and their Associate Membership Programme.
The EGU is a founding member of The England Golf Partnership (EGP) along with the English Ladies Golf Association (ELGA) and the PGA and is supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England. The Whole Sport Plan for golf identifies how the EGP will achieve its vision of becoming ‘The Leading Golf Nation in the World by 2020’ from grass roots right through to elite level.
Contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500