Africa-Press – Eswatini. THE FNB Eswatini Challenge is fast establishing itself as the golf tournament to play in for leading professionals as, in its second year, it has set a record-breaking standard with a total prize purse of E2 million.
In an effort to support the development of local professional golf, FNB Eswatini has increased the 2023 prize money to E1 250 000 when the Sunshine Tour further endorsed the tournament by adding endorsement.
This endorsement, unprecedented in local golfing history, has seen the FNB Eswatini Challenge being the golf tournament with the most prize fund distributed amongst the professional players.
“It’s quite significant for FNB Eswatini that, in the one year since the challenge’s debut, we stand to say we are making a meaningful contribution to raising the standard of professional golf locally.
We are committed to this goal and are particularly excited that of the 120 players who will be playing in the 2023 FNB Eswatini Challenge, 15 of them are local and therefore have a fair chance at the prize fund,” said FNB CEO, Dennis Mbingo.
Sunshine Tour Commissioner, Thomas Abt, confirmed that the Sunshine Tour Board of Directors endorsed a contribution of E750 000 towards the FNB Eswatini Challenge. He said this was meant to elevate the minimum prize fund across all tournaments that were below the E2 million mark in the rest of the season, and the FNB Eswatini Challenge was identified as one of the beneficiaries.
This, he said, would benefit both players and caddies alike, ensuring that even the players who finish at the edge of the prize purse cut-off are better placed to cover their costs.
“The Sunshine Tour has contributed approximately E5 million to elevate all events to the minimum of E2 million prize funds. This elevates the status of the challenge to level 2-tier order of merit points,” said Abt.
Abt further added that with the elevation of the Challenge’s status, they were hopeful for more participation.
“We hope that this attracts a few of the higher-ranked members, who otherwise may have skipped the event, to consider participating,” Abt added.
Noting the contribution, Mbingo said the bank was grateful for the support and endorsement of the challenge by the regional golfing body.
Significant
“It’s a significant moment for us as the Sunshine Tour contribution is reflective of the shared commitment, we have towards ensuring excellence in the sport. This, however, does not mean we neglect the development imperative, as in addition to rewarding consistency and professionalism through the FNB Eswatini Challenge, we support the development of junior golfers locally and, additionally, have two golfers in development play in the Tour”.
The prize fund increase means players have more to play for, with the overall winner pickings standing at E317 000, which is double what it was in the first edition where the inaugural champion, South African professional Jaco Prinsloo scooped the overall prize of E158 500.
The Sunshine Tour’s gesture is being viewed as an endorsement of Eswatini Pro-Golf and the fast-growing FNB Eswatini Challenge, as it not only is the first time that the Sunshine Tour is contributing cash to Eswatini golf but, the FNB Eswatini Challenge now also carries the biggest prize purse of any local tournament.
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