New pro tour comes to Wiltshire

5:55am Tuesday 18th March 2008

Britain's newest professional golf tour is coming to Wiltshire.

The Midas Tour visits Cumberwell Park, Bradford on Avon, on June 17 and 18 and October 7 and 8, and Bowood Golf and Country Club, on October 20 and 21 and again on October 22 for the end-of-season pro-am event.

The tour is designed to provide a stepping stone for the next generation of Britain's Ryder Cup stars, and its line-up also includes players with top-level international experience.

Wiltshire professionals Ashley Monaghan of Chippenham (Hamptworth Golf Club), Craig Bell from Trowbridge (Cumberwell Park Golf Club), Mark Shipley of Swindon (The Players Club), and Steve Surry from Trowbridge (Cumberwell Park Golf Club) are also among the members of the new tour.

Professional golfer Paul Seymour, who has created the tour, said: "As a pro, I know that players really want to be able to play in strong, competitive tournaments without depending on sponsors with deep pockets.

"We're giving young, ambitious professionals a stepping stone into international competition in a highly competitive, professionally-run tour, and the chance to win good prize money too.

"Wiltshire has some wonderful courses, and I'm delighted that the Midas Tour is able to hold four events here in our inaugural season."

Among the tour's star names is Paul Eales, who won the 1994 Extremadura Open on the European Tour and has earned more than £1 million in prize money. He is now increasingly well-known as a commentator for the BBC and Setanta Sports.

He is joined by Australian Daniel Gaunt, who played on the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour and finished third in the 2004 EuroPro order of merit and runner-up the following year, when he also won the £10,000 Peugeot International.

New golf clothing label Lateral Hazard is sponsoring the tour's order of merit and the expected first prize at each event will be around £2,000, with a minimum of £1,000 if the entry is low.

The tour also includes an event at Orchardleigh, Frome, Somerset on April 8 and 9.

Spectators are welcome at all Midas Tour events, and admission is free.