Golf: Champion Smith joins first Celtic Pro Tour field

Feb 22 2008 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

THE Western Mail-supported Celtic Pro Tour stages its first winter event next Friday when St Mellons hosts the Leap Year Classic.

The tour’s 2006 Order of Merit winner Alex Smith (Pyle and Kenfig) and last year’s tour championship winner Matthew Griffiths (Oakdale) are among the early entries.

Three men who are currently playing on the Hooters Tour in Florida – Matthew Dearden (Vale of Glamorgan), Ryan Thomas and Chris Cousins (both Aberdare) – have also entered.

Tour director Rhydian Thomas said he also hoped Stuart Manley (Mountain Ash) and Craig Smith (St Mellons) would find space in their schedules on the European and Asian Tour respectively to support the South Wales event.

The February 29 event is played over 18 holes and is limited to 48 players. Entry costs £99 for professional golfers and £55 for amateurs (scratch or better).

The prize fund will be £3,600 if 42 professionals sign up, with the top 10 in the field winning money and the winner receiving £1,000.

The fund will be reduced on a pro-rata basis depending on numbers entering.

Professionals who are interested in entering the Leap Year Classic should contact the Celtic Pro Tour on 07861 686568, or register online at the official tour website www.celticpro.com.

Alternatively, cheques payable to Celtic Golf Tours Ltd, can be sent to the Celtic Pro Tour office at Ein Cartref, Adare Terrace, Treorchy, RCT, South Wales, CF42 6EN.