Budding stars of the future will be in action at Stoke by Nayland when the Suffolk venue hosts the WPGA International Challenge for a fourth successive year from October 6-8.
The Gainsborough course will host a strong field of Ladies European Tour hopefuls chasing a €30,000 prize fund at the penultimate tournament of the season.
The 54-hole event is part of the LET Access Series and was launched in 2013 by The PGA to increase support of the women’s game.
It will be the only LETAS event to be staged in the UK in 2016 and there will be 96 competitors including 15 WPGA members, comprising winners from the WPGA’s One Day Series and the remaining places secured via a qualifying Order of Merit over the same period.
Fifteen places will also be allocated to the leading English amateurs decided by England Golf, recognising LETAS’s commitment to providing an important link between elite amateur and professional golf.
There is a lot at stake for the competitors with the top five on the LET Access Series order of merit earning cards on the Ladies European Tour for 2016 as achieved by last year’s WPGA International Challenge winner Natalia Escuriola.
Di Barnard, tour director of the LET Access Series said: “Stoke by Nayland Hotel Golf & Spa is a first class venue and the Gainsborough course is a tremendous test of golf.
“We look forward to visiting again this year and welcoming everyone to the tournament. The event receives great support from the PGA and England Golf and is a very important playing opportunity for the players, both for the elite amateurs and the professionals, many of whom are just starting out in their careers.”
PGA head of tournaments, Ben Groutage, added: “The WPGA International Challenge has gone from strength to strength since its launch and we are delighted to be again returning to Stoke by Nayland who have been so supportive of the PGA and golf at all levels.
“LETAS is an ideal platform for aspiring Tour hopefuls to savour elite level golf with the incentive of places on the LET for the leading finishers.
“Furthermore the event represents another high quality playing opportunity for our WPGA Members.
Susanna Rendall, managing director of the multi award winning, family-owned Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, said: “We are really delighted to be hosting the WPGA International Challenge for the fourth year running. There is now a substantial fan base of spectators who will also be excited about this announcement as they can return to Stoke by Nayland to watch, free of charge, these talented women from all over the world playing top quality championship golf in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. “
