Proton secures NSW Open naming rights
BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2005 New South Wales Open | General | 10 May 2005
Proton Cars Australia, one of Australia’s fastest growing car companies with Lotus Technology, has secured the naming rights sponsorship of the NSW Open Championship for 2005.
The Championship is the largest event on the 2005 New South Wales golfing calendar. To be known as the Proton NSW Open, it will be held in November at Liverpool Golf Club.
Organisers of the event, the NSW Golf Association (NSWGA), are hoping for the return of Peter Lonard to defend his 2004 title. His win last year at Liverpool saw him start a roller coaster ride, winning three Australasian titles which were recently capped off by his great US Tour win. Trevor McGaw, Business Development & Marketing Manager for the NSWGA, said, “Peter’s the type of fellow who likes to defend his titles. If he can get back here again this year, he will.”
The partnership with Proton will see the Proton NSW Open prize money increase to make it the richest event on the Von Nida calendar for 2005, and it is hoped this will attract some bigger name players to tee up for the week. This is also the final event on the Von Nida calendar for the year, and it is more than likely that the Order of Merit will also be decided at Liverpool.
David Allen, Chief Executive Officer of the NSWGA, said, “We embrace the commitment from Proton Australia to sponsor the NSW Open. Their support of this event, teamed with the outstanding field of Australian and international players, as well as the excitement and enthusiasm of the golfing community, is sure to guarantee the success of the event.”
Managing Director of Proton Cars Australia, John Startari, was enthusiastic about the sponsorship, saying that it provided a great lead into the market as well as re-affirming Proton’s brand strength nationally. “We are very proud to have been able to secure naming rights to this tournament, which will provide the opportunity for golf and sports enthusiasts across NSW and the nation to enjoy the highest quality men’s professional golf, and watch some of the world’s best players vie for the Championship title.”
Trevor McGaw, Business Development & Marketing Manager for the NSWGA, has made it his personal goal to achieve Australasian PGA Tour status for the event in the future. “Proton is an internationally prominent and highly esteemed organisation,” he said, “and the company has had some involvement in, and support of, the event in past years, but this has seen them jump right in, feet first, for 2005. We will be working together as a team to build this event to its former glory, and to give the State the type of event it really deserves in golf tournaments for 2005.”
Last year’s NSW Open was a star studded event, with Paul Vautin taking his clubs to the fairways at Liverpool, and rock star Jimmy Barnes there to show his support for friend Peter Lonard. Barnes later headed for the US, to continue his support for Peter on the US Tour.
Proton has been established in Australia since in 1996, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton Bhd. This partnership will see Proton hold an option for further years of involvement in golf with the NSWGA at this level.
Source – NSWGA
