The European Senior Tour will return to Jersey for the first time in five years when the Acorn Jersey Open is added to the schedule in 2015.
Having previously taken place for 15 consecutive years from 1996-2010, the tournament will be back at its ‘home’ venue of La Moye Golf Club from June 4-6, with Jersey-based finance group Acorn becoming title sponsor for the first time.
With a prize fund of £200,000, the tournament will be a Pro-Am format similar to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with each professional joined by an amateur partner for the opening two rounds, and the leading 30 amateurs qualifying for the final round.
Jersey and La Moye Golf Club both have a proud golfing tradition, dating back to the Jersey Open which took place on The European tour from 1978-1995, with an illustrious list of champions that includes Ryder Cup players Brian Huggett, Sandy Lyle, Tony Jacklin, Bernard Gallacher, Howard Clark, Des Smyth, Christy O’Connor Jnr, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, the former Masters champion who is now a resident on the Channel Island.
It was succeeded by the Jersey Seniors Classic in 1996, which in turn had an impressive roll of honour that included another Jersey resident, Tommy Horton (1997), Neil Coles (2000), Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance (2005), Tony Johnstone (2008) and Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand Jnr, who won his maiden Senior Tour title when the event was last played in 2010.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “The European Senior Tour has enjoyed a special relationship with Jersey and La Moye Golf Club over the years, and it was an event that many of our players were very fond of, especially with many having played there on The European Tour as well. We are therefore delighted to be going back in 2015 and we must thank Acorn for enabling the tournament to return to our schedule by becoming title sponsor.
“The tournament will help showcase Jersey as a tourist destination to an international television audience, and we look forward to seeing who will become the next champion at this magnificent venue.”
Senator Lyndon Farnham, Jersey’s Minister for Economic Development, said: “I am delighted that this prestigious tournament is returning to Jersey which will be a welcome boost for tourism and a landmark addition to the sporting events calendar. It is very pleasing that a local business is the main sponsor which shows confidence in our economy”.
Richard Harrop, Director of Acorn, said “We are delighted to be involved in this flagship event which will bring significant visitor numbers as well as presenting Jersey on a global stage through the presence of Sky TV. We would like to thank International Plywood and Locate Jersey for their combined support which has been fundamental in bringing the tournament back to the Island.”
Ian Attwood, Managing Director of International Plywood, one of the tournament sponsors, said: “We are delighted to help in bringing both Jersey and La Moye back to the golfing calendar. International Plywood is honoured to be involved with such a prestigious event and hope that it will be supported accordingly."
Individual amateur places to join some of the leading senior players in the Acorn Jersey Open are available. For more information please contact:golf@acornjerseyopen.je.
