£200k purse draws big names to Jersey Open

Tuesday 07 June 2016

A total of 14 former Ryder Cup players, including three captains, are in the 54-man field for tomorrow’s Acorn Jersey Open at La Moye Golf Club from June 8-11.

Former European Ryder Cup captains Mark James, a 20-time European Tour title winner, Sam Torrance, a four-time Ryder Cup winner who also captained Europe to success in 2002, and Ian Woosnam, who captained Europe to a record-equaling 18 ½ - 9 ½ victory in the 2006 Ryder Cup, are set to tee-off in the European Senior Tour’s second event of the season.

Previous Ryder Cup players also included in the field are Paul Broadhurst and David Gilford, who will be visiting Jersey for the first time, and former European No1 Ronan Rafferty.

The £200,000 prize fund will be contested in a pro-am format, with each professional joined by an amateur partner for three rounds before the professionals play their final round on the Saturday of the tournament.

Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham said: “This is the second year the island has hosted a European Senior Tour event after a previous gap of around a decade so we are delighted it is being played here again and the list of players competing is very impressive.

“Last year attracted very good crowds to the event and we are hoping for even better this year, especially with such a strong field and the fact that it is free to watch.

“I’m sure there will be hundreds of spectators watching some of the game’s finest players and top class golf is now back in Jersey. Hopefully it is here to stay for many years, especially as golf in Jersey enjoys such a rich heritage.” 

European Senior Tour Managing Director, Andy Stubbs, added: “The European Tour has a long-standing relationship with Jersey that stretches back nearly 40 years to when Brian Huggett MBE won the B.A./Avis Open at La Moye Golf Club in 1978.

“It is wonderful that we have been able to continue our association with the Island on the European Senior Tour and we are very much looking forward to returning to Jersey for this year’s edition of the Acorn Jersey Open.

“With the ambience and atmosphere on and around the course, it’s easy to see why the tournament continues to attract such a strong field and we are committed to returning to the island for many years to come.”

Other golfers appearing at the Acorn Jersey Open include Philip Walton, Paul Way, Gordon Brand, Nick Job and Anders Forsbrand.