2002 Vic Open moves to Portsea and Sorrento
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2002 Victorian Open | General | 07 Aug 2002
The 2002 Victorian Open Golf Championship is to be played in a new format at Sorrento and Portsea Golf Clubs over the period 24-27 October.
The event has been re-structured to include a “National Pro-Am” component in which sponsor guests will be teamed and playing with the tournament professionals for the opening two days.
Half the field will play at Portsea and half at Sorrento on the opening day and then rotate to the other course for the second round. The National Pro-Am component will conclude after two rounds and the Vic Open cut will be made to leave 60 professionals plus ties contesting the Saturday and Sunday final rounds at Sorrento Golf Club. The event carries PGA Tour Order-of-Merit status and a minimum prizemoney of $100,000.
Announcing the new format, Mr. Dick Kirby, VGA President said “Innovation was needed in the Vic Open to secure its position with sponsors. The National Pro-Am component provides an opportunity for companies and groups of all sizes to take a role in this prestigious Championship. We have some very attractive sponsor opportunities at relatively low cost. Sorrento and Portsea both have outstanding facilities and we expect enthusiastic response from this opportunity to showcase two special golf courses to the PGA Tour professionals and the golfing public.”
PGA Tour Chairman, Wayne Grady said, “We respect the great tradition of the Vic Open. We are pleased to support the Victorian Golf Association in their desire to give the event a new face and a lift.”
