Hydro backing new event for club players

AS well as announcing an increase in prize money for the Scottish Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley, Scottish Hydro has extended its commitment to the Scottish game by launching a new event for club golfers, writes Martin Dempster.

The Scottish Hydro National Competition comprises four men's regional finals at Kings Acre, Westerwood, Murrayshall and Moray. There is also a ladies' final at Murrayshall, with the winners at each venue earning a place in the Scottish Hydro Challenge Pro-Am along with two friends.

Clubs throughout Scotland can participate by nominating a monthly medal in April, the winner of which, or next available player, will qualify for one of the regional finals, all of which will be played on Sunday, 1 May.

The launch of the event follows five Challenge Tour players being selected for Team Scottish Hydro, an initiative aimed at helping promising Scottish professionals make the step up to the European Tour.

The quintet will all be in the field for this year's Scottish Hydro Challenge in Aviemore from 23-26 June, when a pot of €220,000, an increase of ten per cent, will be up for grabs.

"The Scottish Challenge has one of the top five prize funds on the circuit and is regarded as one of the majors on the Challenge Tour," said Mark Aspland of the European Tour.

This is the sixth year of the event and third at Spey Valley, where Jamie McLeary won in 2009 and, 12 months later, fellow Scot George Murray lifted the title.

There is unlikely to be a marquee name such as Matteo Manassero, who was in the field last year, this time around, while the leading Scottish professionals are all likely to be playing in the BMW International Open in Munich.

However, the likes of Marc Warren and Alastair Forsyth could be in the line-up, while organisers are hoping that Sandy Lyle, who is sponsored by Macdonald Hotels, might also be tempted to play if the event fits into his Senior Tour commitments.

"We have a commitment to this event as part of the Ryder Cup but also right through to 2018," said Robbie Clyde, of eventscotland.

"Dare I say it but it's a safe event on the schedule."

The tournament is also a "significant event" for Aviemore, where Macdonald have invested 35 million since 2003.

"The event takes place a fortnight before the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart," said promoter Iain Stoddart. "That means there will be two significant events in a short period of time in the Highlands, which can only be fantastic for the area."