Senior Open Qualifying venues named for 2011

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOURBetchworth Park, Burhill Golf Club and Kingswood Golf and Country Club were today named as the three qualifying venues for The 2011 Senior Open Championship.
An estimated 300 players will take part in the 18 hole qualifier across the three courses on July 18 hoping to earn a place in the field for The Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath from July 21-24.
It is the first time Walton Heath has hosted the Championship as the Surrey venue marks the 30th anniversary of it hosting The Ryder Cup in 1981 – the first biennial contest between a combined continental European Team and the United States on European soil.
Several players from that Ryder Cup are likely to be in the field for The Senior Open Championship including Sandy Lyle, Sam Torrance, Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer who will be defending his title after winning his maiden Senior Major Championship at Carnoustie on Sunday.
The qualifying competition will give non-exempt players the chance to join these golfing greats in the Championship with the hope of reproducing the performance of Pete Oakley in 2004 who came through qualifying before going on to win the Championship at Royal Portrush.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, on behalf of The Senior Open Championship, said: “Following the success of this year’s Senior Open at Carnoustie last week we are delighted to announce three fantastic courses in Betchworth Park, Burhill and Kingswood as the venues for next year’s qualifier and we are extremely grateful to the respective Members for giving up their facilities.
“The Senior Open Championship continues to grow each year and it is vital that we have strong qualifying venues to support this. All three courses are close to Walton Heath and I’m sure the Surrey area will benefit from the boost to its economy that is associated with hosting the Senior Open Championship.”