Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Honourable Damian Drum has announced this morning that a re-elected Coalition Government will invest a further $1.4 million over four years to the Oates Vic Open starting from 2015, thanks to a $3.5 million boost to the Significant Sporting Events Program.
Liberal candidate for Bellarine Ron Nelson stated, “We know that major sporting events held in regional Victoria have a significant and positive economic impact particularly with interstate and international visitation.
“In addition, holding elite sporting events encourages people of all ages to get involved themselves.
“This is why a re-elected Coalition Government will increase funding for the Significant Sporting Events program by $3.5 million over the next four years. This is in addition to the $4.8 million already locked into the budget.
“Over the past two years, the Oates Victorian Golf Open held at Barwon Heads’ Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, has received $100,000 from the Government,” said Nelson.
With increased funding for prize money, the Oates Vic Open, currently a sanctioned event on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the ALPG Tour will be eligible for co-sanctioning with the Ladies European Tour (LET) and moves closer to other international co-sanctioning opportunities for the men’s championship.
Simon Brookhouse, Golf Victoria CEO welcomed Minister Drum’s announcement, “It’s extremely pleasing that a re-elected Coalition Government will boost funding to the Oates Vic Open which will help us further develop the Championship into a world-class event.
“Golf Victoria greatly appreciates the bi-partisan support which both political parties provide to our sport and specifically the Oates Vic Open.
“The increased funding gives us the opportunity to really accelerate the growth of this fantastic event. We’ve already seen the overwhelming response from spectators, sponsors, media and players in the first two years of the Oates Vic Open being played at Thirteenth Beach,” said Brookhouse.
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