BT announced as title sponsor for Northern Ireland

(Tytherington, July 22 2003) The Ladies European Tour is delighted to announce BT as the official title sponsor of the £150,000 Northern Ireland Ladies Open, played over Warrenpoint GC from August 14-17 2003.

The new title of the event will be the BT Ladies Open in association with Northern Ireland Events Co.

“BT is delighted to support the Northern Ireland Events company in bringing this prestigious ladies golf tournament back to Northern Ireland. It is a wonderful opportunity to highlight our landscape and facilities and is an example of a multifaceted society working together to provide what promises to be a superb event,” said Carol Hughes, sponsorship manager for BT.

The BT Ladies Open is the penultimate tournament in a two-year countdown for the top seven automatic places in the European Solheim Cup team, this year captained by the glamorous Swede Catrin Nilsmark. With the race likely to go down to the wire, Warrenpoint GC will witness its fair share of drama as the race builds up to a mouth watering climax the following week.

Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson, winner of ten titles in Europe has confirmed for the event and will make a bid to represent Europe for the eighth consecutive time in The Solheim Cup this September.

England’s Trish Johnson, winner of 13 titles in Europe and who is lying in tenth position in the Solheim rankings has also entered the event, along with two-time French Open champion Lynnette Brooky from New Zealand and Tenerife Ladies Open winner Elisabeth Esterl from Germany, who sits in third place in the rankings.

In addition to the communications giant, local sponsors have lent their support to the event such as Tyrone Crystal, who will be supplying the tournament trophies, and Pro-Am prizes along with a small Gift for Pro Am guests.

JC Campbell, a local Honda-Citroen dealership will be supplying the courtesy cars and during the final round on Sunday, will offer a car for the first professional to make a hole-in-one. And local bookmaker Adrian Eastwood will be taking odds against the ace.

Dale Reid from Scotland was the last player to win a Ladies European Tour event in Northern Ireland when she won the 1987 Ulster Open at Belvoir Park.