LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR HEADS TO ANDALUCIA
The prestigious championship will be played at Aloha Golf Club, one of the most well-established golf clubs in the world renowned tourist destination of Marbella on the Costa del Sol.
On behalf of Tourism of Andalucía, the title sponsor of the championship, Francisco Javier Fernandez commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Ladies European Tour to Europe’s leading golf destination. A heaven for golfers, millions of visitors flock to Andalucía annually to experience the top-notch golf courses and white-sand beaches in year-round warm weather. This exciting tournament will bring together the world’s best golfers so that fans and participants may enjoy the great beauty of the sport in an incomparable setting.”
Andalucía will showcase its world-class golf and entertainment through the LET’s global television platform, with two days of live television broadcasts that will reach more than 100 countries.
LET CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh said: “On behalf of our players and staff, I would like to say how thrilled we are to be returning to the region of Andalucía, Europe’s top golf destination with close to 120 fantastic world-class courses. This will be one of the most prestigious championships on our calendar in 2016 and I would like to thank Andalucía, as well as the Real Federacion Española de Golf, for bringing the tournament back to our schedule. With golf returning to the Olympic Games in August, it is our hope that all of our players and fans will be able to celebrate together in September.”
The return of the tournament could not be more impeccably timed following the recent victory of young Spanish Rookie Nuria Itturios in Morocco, who is expected to be among the full-field of 126 competitors competing for a prize fund of 300,000 euros.
Jaime Salaverri, President of the Professional Committee at the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEGolf), commented: “On behalf of RFEGolf, we are truly excited about the return of the Open de España Femenino to the Ladies European Tour schedule, as we believe the championship will spur on future Spanish champions and give our existing winners the chance to demonstrate their impressive talents and skills. With perfect weather and golf courses, Andalucía is the ideal location to stage a tournament of this calibre.”
One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious championships, the Open De España Femenino was first part of the Ladies European Tour schedule in 1982, when American Rose Jones triumphed at Las Aves. The most recent edition was held at Golf Costa Adeje in Tenerife in 2014 and won by the South African Connie Chen.