21st December, 2015

SSE Enterprise renews title sponsorship of Wales Senior Open

The Wales Senior Open has received a significant boost with the news that SSE Enterprise will again be title sponsor when the tournament returns to the European Senior Tour schedule in June 2016.

The leading essential business services company sponsored the tournament earlier this year to rave reviews, and has exercised its option to re-sign for another year.

Played over the Roman Road course at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport from June 3rd to 5th, 2016, the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open will again carry a prize fund of £250,000 and the title will be defended by Englishman Paul Wesselingh, who triumphed by two shots in May, edging out home favourite Ian Woosnam.

The tournament will once more have the backing of the Welsh Government as part of its ongoing commitment to golf, continuing the legacy of The 2010 Ryder Cup, which took place on the Celtic Manor Resort's Twenty Ten course, and following the hugely successful Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in 2014.

SSE Enterprise has a strong relationship with the Senior Tour, having previously sponsored the Scottish Senior Open for three consecutive years, from 2012 to 2014, as well as the Scottish Hydro Challenge on the European Challenge Tour since 2009.

Jim McPhillimy, Managing Director of SSE Enterprise said: "Our experience of sponsoring such a successful event at Celtic Manor in 2015 was yet another chapter in our proud history of supporting Welsh sport. It was therefore an easy decision to commit to sponsoring the Wales Senior OpeEuropean Tour Group and the Welsh Government – once again".

Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: "We are delighted that SSE Enterprise has decided to be title sponsor for another year and continue supporting a wonderful event on the European Senior Tour calendar.

"SSE has been very involved in many levels of golf, from grassroots through to the legends of the game on the Senior Tour, and we very much look forward to working with them in Wales again next year".

The SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open has a rich history of past champions, including the Senior Tour's most prolific winner, Carl Mason (2005, 2007), former Ryder Cup players José Rivero (2006) and Barry Lane (2012) and Philip Golding (2013). Wales' greatest golfer, former World Number One and Masters Champion Ian Woosnam, has three top three finishes in five appearances in the tournament.

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