Kinross golfer all-set for £300,000 championship

Jun 13 2008

KINROSS golfer Garry Harvey has secured a spot in one of the most prestigious events on the European Seniors Tour – the £300,000 De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship.

Garry will join Bill Lockie from North Gailes as the only home-based Scots taking on some of golf's biggest names in the top notch competition.

The stra name includeformer Ryder Cup stars Costantino Rocca and ex-Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, at Northumberland's De Vere Slaley Hall.

The duo secured their place in the event, which is the longest-running tournament on the European Seniors Tour, after finishing in the top 20 at the Senior PGA Professional Championship.

Harvey, who is an honorary member at Craigie Hill, one-time Tour player and former British Boys champion, will be chasing a £50,000 winner's cheque.

The cash pay-out is the biggest top prize in the tournament's 52-year history after the championship was reunited with De Vere, who previously sponsored the event between 1996 and 2005.

Harvey is well-known as the engraver who etches the name of the winner of The Open on the Claret Jug.

But he admits he wouldlove to get his own name etched on the Slaley Hall silverware.

The tournament, which will be played over the Dave Thomas-designed Hunting Course, is one of only two 72-hole championships on the Seniors Tour – the other being the Seniors Open.

A field of 120 golfers will compete for the title, which has previously been won by the likes of Open Championship winners Max Faulkner, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson.

Christy O'Connor has lifted the title no less than six times.

Over the past four years of the top class tournament, the title has been won by the two men who have dominated the European Seniors Tour as a whole.

They are three time Order of Merit winner Carl Mason triumphing in 2004 and 2007, while two time Order of Merit winner Torrance prevailed in 2005 and 2006.

This year's prestigious event will take place from August 21-24.