ADELAIDE, November 16: The ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will be played in Adelaide in 2016 and beyond.
Golf Australia chief executive officer Stephen Pitt, in conjunction with South Australian Minister for Recreation and Sport and Minister for Tourism, Leon Bignell, announced the historic move today at next year’s host venue, The Grange Golf Club.
Midori Miyazaki, executive director for international affairs for the tournament’s naming rights sponsor ISPS Handa, also confirmed a seventh successive year as the event’s major partner.
Mr Pitt said The Grange’s West Course would host the LPGA Tour co-sanctioned event from February 18-21 next year.
He also confirmed Royal Adelaide would host the 2017 championship to help celebrate the club’s 125th anniversary, with nearby Kooyonga the 2018 venue with an option for further tournaments in South Australia after that time.
“We are incredibly excited to bring such a high-profile international event as the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open to Adelaide,” Mr Pitt said.
“The South Australian Government, Golf South Australia and the clubs involved have all shown huge interest in bringing the event to Adelaide.
“And with the city not having hosted an elite level golf tournament for a few years, we are thrilled to engage with the entire community here in bringing the world’s best players back to the people of South Australia.”
Mr Bignell said the championship would put Adelaide firmly in the global spotlight.
“Hosting the Open means we can showcase the state’s premier golf courses, as well as highlight our spectacular tourism assets,” he said.
“This is huge news for golf fans and for our visitor economy. The 2016 event alone will deliver an estimated $3.7 million to our visitor economy and will have massive flow-on effect for hotels, taxis, hospitality and small businesses.
“We will also have international media exposure estimated to be worth more than $4.4 million.”
FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO, CLICK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysl_q9_0pxg
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