[London. February 2011] One of the PGA's major tournaments has been renamed The Lombard Challenge after securing a three-year sponsorship deal from leading UK asset finance provider, Lombard.
The Lombard Challenge, a PGA Pro-Captain tournament, has received significant investment from the heavyweight financial institution, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.
The new deal sees Lombard and the PGA reigniting their partnership, with Lombard having previously sponsored the PGA National Pro-Am – previously known as The Lombard Trophy – between 1995 and 2006.
Lombard's return will see the Grand Final prize fund increase from £7,500 to £25,000, with greater opportunities for PGA professionals and their club captains to reach the final of The Lombard Challenge with ten qualifying tournaments – an increase of three – across the PGA's seven regions.
The final is set to return to the PGA Sultan course at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey, which hosted the event for the first time in 2010. The final will be played over 36 holes on November 25 and 26.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: "It is great to welcome back Lombard to the PGA stable of sponsors given our previous long and successful partnership.
"Lombard took the PGA National Pro-Am to new heights, making it the largest event of its kind in Europe. I am sure that The Lombard Challenge, with increased prize funds and more opportunities to reach the final, will have an equally invigorating and inspirational impact on the tournament.
"I am confident that the PGA professionals who have previously competed in Lombard events will testify to their excellence and will be urging their captains to compete in this year's event.
"The relationship between the PGA professional and captain is one of the most important at any club and The Lombard Challenge is a marvellous opportunity for both to put their club on the map by reaching a national final.
"Antalya Golf Club is a fabulous venue for a final and I'm sure competition will be as fierce as ever as teams bid to be one of the lucky ten to make it through to the final."
Ian Wood, head of marketing at Lombard said: "Partnering with the PGA to present The Lombard Challenge, a PGA pro-captain tournament, is an exciting initiative to be part of and one that we are very proud of too.
"We expect a great deal of golfing entertainment over the course of the tournament and look forward to watching the pros and captains from around the UK battle it out to become this year's champions.
"Having previously enjoyed a very successful relationship with the PGA in sponsoring the PGA National Pro-Am, we are thrilled to be back on the golf course and practicing our swing."
This will be the 14th staging of the tournament. Last year it was won by Newport-based Parc Golf Academy pro Richard Dinsdale and captain Steve Hook. Dinsdale, by coincidence, was the final winner of the PGA National Pro-Am when it was sponsored by Lombard.
