South Australia is set to host its first professional mixed golf tournament in October with TPS South Australia taking place at the picturesque Willunga Golf Club, located in the renowned McLaren Vale wine region.
TPS South Australia marks the inaugural event of the 2023/24 Webex Players Series, a groundbreaking series of tournaments that brings together male and female professionals, elite amateurs, and All Abilities golfers in a single field on the same golf course. Former Australian cricketer and SA golf representative Greg Blewett will serve as the event’s host.
Taking place from October 19-22, the $200,000 tournament will be a historic moment for both the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia as they venture into the McLaren Vale region, located south of Adelaide. The Women’s Australian Open in 2020 marked the WPGA Tour’s most recent event in South Australia, while the men’s tour has not visited the state for a tournament since the 2007 Jacob’s Creek Open.
Adding to the excitement, 16 junior golfers will tee off alongside the professionals in their own 36-hole competition over the tournament weekend.
PGA of Australia Tournaments Director Australasia Nick Dastey said South Australia would see a golf tournament with a difference at Willunga.
“We are delighted to bring the PGA and WPGA tours back to South Australia and in particular, to Willunga Golf Club and the stunning McLaren Vale area,” Dastey said.
“Our Webex Players Series calendar is growing at an exciting rate. In just three years, it has grown from two inaugural events to five, giving players fresh and exciting opportunities to compete at the professional level.”
WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said: “With our women and men playing on the same course, for the same prizemoney purse and trophy, plus the All-Abilities golfers contesting their event, TPS South Australia will provide something for everyone.
“We are confident South Australians will embrace the innovative, fresh and exciting mixed format and come along in numbers to Willunga in October.”
SA Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard MP said: “This tournament will bring professional golfers to South Australia and the beautiful McLaren Vale wine region – a big win for South Australia and the local area.”
“This unique event includes everyone, with golfers of all abilities – women, men and juniors – playing the same course at the same time. Willunga Golf Club will be the perfect host for this innovative event, which I am sure the local community will embrace” Minister Hildyard said.
Member for Mawson Leon Bignell said: “As the local MP for the region and the chair of SA’s Major Events Committee, this is great news for SA.”
“We have seen a growing appetite for golf in SA, and now some of Australia’s best men and women golfers, all abilities golfers and juniors will be competing in one of the world’s best food and wine regions.”
TPS South Australia joins another new event on the 2023/24 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, the Heritage Classic, in Melbourne in January.
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