SCOTTISH HYDRO CHALLENGE PRIZE MONEY BOOSTED

TEAM HYDRO (left to right): Jamie McLeary, Gavin Dear, Craig Lee, Craig Doak and Callum Macaulay.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
The Scottish Hydro Challenge has enhanced its reputation as one of the most lucrative tournaments on the Challenge Tour schedule after increasing its prize fund for the 2011 edition to €220,000.
The tournament, which receives crucial, much-valued investment from EventScotland as part of the national events agency’s ongoing support of The European, Challenge, Senior and Ladies European Tours ahead of The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, is in its sixth year and returns to the magnificent Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course in Aviemore for the third season running.
It is also the third year Scottish Hydro have been title sponsors, and the event has in the last two seasons produced ‘home’ winners in Scottish duo Jamie McLeary, in 2009, and George Murray.
The Scottish Hydro Challenge, taking place from June 23 – 26, falls under the year of Active Scotland banner, an initiative aiming to raise the profile of the country as an active nation and holiday destination and promote the benefits of sport and activity to Scottish people and visitors.
The Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course is the perfect venue to showcase Scotland’s superb countryside and inspire others to be active – be it playing golf or just being outdoors and appreciating the surroundings.
Set among heather and birch trees against the majestic backdrop of the Cairngorm mountain range, the course was described by its architect, the famous Dave Thomas, as “the jewel in my crown”.
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland, said: “EventScotland has supported the Scottish Hydro Challenge since 2006 as part of our long-term commitment to the growth of Scottish golf and our drive towards The Ryder Cup 2014.
“The event helps our future golfing stars onto the ladder of the professional game and gives them a chance to play at home, in the ‘Home of Golf’, on one of its top courses.”
Jim McPhillimy, Scottish Hydro Group Services Director, said: “The Scottish Hydro Challenge has gone from strength to strength in the last few years and we are proud to be able to increase the prize fund as well as continue to be part of the ongoing success of Scottish golf in the build-up to the sport’s greatest team competition, The Ryder Cup.
“This year we have also launched Team Scottish Hydro, where we are providing financial and strategic support to five young players - Gavin Dear, Chris Doak, Craig Lee, Callum Macaulay and Jamie McLeary- in a bid to produce more Scottish European Tour and Ryder Cup stars.
“It gives the players the opportunity to focus entirely on their games as they bid to make their way onto The European Tour and of course it would be fantastic to see one of them win the Scottish Hydro Challenge this year – as Jamie McLeary did two years ago.”
Ruaridh Macdonald, Sales and Marketing Director of Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, said: “The two editions of the Scottish Hydro Challenge held at Macdonald Spey Valley have been hugely successful and it has been a pleasure to have golf’s rising stars here.
“It is great news that the prize fund has been increased, particularly in today’s tricky financial climate, and it means the event will continue to be one of the most lucrative on the Challenge Tour schedule and attract the best players.
“The feedback we have received from the players and spectators from the last two events has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to welcoming them back in June.”
This year there will again be a Clubgolf Pro-Am on the Monday of the tournament week for all the Clubgolf volunteers, and junior coaching will take place for many local schools on June Thursday 23 and Friday 24.
DOUGLAS LOWE MEMORIAL QUAICH FOR TOP SCOT

The tournament’s leading Scottish player will be presented with the Douglas Lowe Memorial Quaich, in memory of the popular and much-respected Herald golf journalist Dougie Lowe, who died this month aged 59 following a short illness.

Dougie is pictured right with the Scottish golf writers' championship trophy and the Belhaven Trophy which he won at the annual competition at Mar Hall in late October. Picture by Carol Fell.

 Iain Stoddart of Bounce Sport Management, the Challenge Tour’s commercial partner in Scotland, said: “Dougie Lowe was devoted to golf in Scotland, from grass roots level to The European Tour, and he would be very proud and humbled to know there is an award in his memory.

 “He was an extremely popular man who loved his job as a golf reporter and will be very sadly missed by the golfing world.”