Shoe sponsors boost Challenge Tour

Outstanding performance on the European Challenge Tour will for the first time this year be rewarded with a cheque for €10,000 and a 12-month shoe contract courtesy of official sponsors ECCO. ECCO representatives Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland have both leant their support to the award, which will be presented on two occasions in the season to the Challenge Tour Member who has shown the most promise over the preceding months. Bjorn and Montgomerie will be joined by Dieter Kasprzak, CEO of ECCO, and Alain de Soultrait, European Challenge Tour Managing Director, on the four man judging panel. The first winner will be selected following the conclusion of the Telenet Trophy at Limburg Golf and Country Club in Houthalen, Belgium, from June 19-22. The second award will be presented after the penultimate event on the Challenge Tour Schedule, the Toscana Open Italian Federation Cup at Le Pavoniere Golf and Country Club in Prato, Italy, from October 16-19. Each winner will be given a €10,000 cheque and the chance to take up a 12-month shoe contract with ECCO. ECCO, who will this year again support six Challenge Tour events and the season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy, will also offer a pair of golf shoes to the winner of eachtournament on this season’s Schedule. Jesper Thuen, ECCO Sponsor and Event Manager, said: “At ECCO we believe excellence should be rewarded, which is why we are extremely proud to announce this new award on the European Challenge Tour. Our sponsorship of last year’s Challenge Tour was very fruitful for both parties, and we hope our continued commitment brings us even closer this year.” Alain de Soultrait, European Challenge Tour Managing Director, said: “We are very grateful to ECCO for their generosity in sponsoring this award, which gives our Members even greater incentive to perform well this season. We thank ECCO for their support, and I look forward to judging the first award in June.”