ECCO Signs Three Year Deal

The European Challenge Tour has signed a three year extension with Scandinavia’s richest Challenge Tour event, the ECCO Tour Championship. The 2008 edition of the tournament will be played over the Kokkedal Golfklub, Hørsholm, Denmark, from August 28-31. The new three year agreement will see the prize fund for the ECCO Tour Championship rise in €10,000 increments, with the 2008 Championship worth €180,000; the 2009 edition worth €190,000 and the 2010 tournament worth €200,000. Flemming Astrup, Chief Executive of ECCO Tour Championship promoters GolfPromote, said: “To be able to secure the ECCO Tour Championship a place on the Challenge Tour Schedule for the next three years is fantastic news for Danish golf, especially for our young professionals who are looking to gain experience at as high a level as possible before making their way to The European Tour. “We are also looking forward to working with everyone at the outstanding Kokkedal Golfklub to make the 2008 edition of the ECCO Tour Championship the most memorable on record.” Jesper Thuen, Sponsorship Manager of ECCO, said: “As a Danish company, it is important that we support the development of the game in our own country and we believe that, by sponsoring the ECCO Tour Championship, we can help provide a platform for a new generation of Danish players to follow one of the Challenge Tour’s most successful players and one of ECCO’s most important ambassadors, Thomas Björn.” Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted that the ECCO Tour Championship has extended its commitment to the European Challenge Tour and in particular the development of golf in Denmark. “We would especially like to thank the team at GolfPromote, whose vision is raising the bar for golf not only in Denmark but across Scandinavia. ECCO is a company that strives for excellence in all that they do, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership over the coming seasons.”