Sport & Recreation

Pro Tourney Tees Off By Ira Iosebashvili

Issue 8 July 8 - September 9, 2004

	courtesy of AMS
	On the green: bmw russian open

The BMW Russian Open tournament is scheduled to run from Aug. 11 to 15 at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club, Russia’s first and only 18-hole championship golf facility. A stopover on the prestigious PGA European Tour, the tournament is expected to feature 160 golfers and a prize fund of $500,000, the largest offered at the course to date.

“We want this year’s tournament to contribute to Russia’s worldwide recognition as a golf state, and lead to the further development of golf in this country,” said Russian Golf Association president Konstantin Kozhevnikov at a May press conference announcing the event.

Le Meridien began hosting amateur golf tournaments in 1993. In 1996, the tournaments turned professional and Le Meridien became a stop on the PGA European Challenge Tour, a qualifier for the PGA European Tour. BMW began sponsoring the event in 1999, and last year it became a double tournament — that is, participants have the chance of being ranked both in the PGA European and the PGA European Challenge.

The tournament has not been without its exciting moments, including holes-in-one by Dutchman Niels Kraay in 1999 and Britain’s David Salisbury in 2002.

This year, the tournament’s winner is expected to take home a grand prize of $82,500, and BMW is to award an automobile for a hole in one.

Organizers say a final list of participants will be available a month before the tournament’s start.