The European Senior Tour will return to La Quinta Golf and Country Club in Spain for the second edition of the Benahavis Senior Masters from October 15-17.
With a prize fund of €180,000, the announcement of the tournament takes the number of events that count towards the 2010 Senior Tour Order of Merit to 19.
England’s Carl Mason captured the title at the inaugural Benahavis Senior Masters in 2009, defeating Gordon Brand Jnr in a play-off after the pair tied on seven under par 206.
That was Mason’s 22nd Senior Tour title taking him one short of Tommy Horton’s benchmark of 23 – a record he subsequently equalled with victory in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open a fortnight ago.
The Benahavis Senior Masters will be the first of two trips to Spain as the 2010 campaign reaches its climax, with the OKI Castéllon Senior Tour Championship rounding the season off in November.
José Antonio Mena, Mayor of Benahavís, said: “Benahavís is very proud to be associated with the game of golf and it is through events like this that the municipality aims to be known as a centre of golfing excellence in southern Spain.”
Joaquin Moya Angeler, President of La Quinta Golf and Country Club, said: “We at La Quinta Golf and Country Club are extremely proud to have the opportunity to host our second consecutive Benahavís Senior Masters, and we are delighted to have some of the world’s finest senior golfers here with us again.
“We are grateful to the region and Mayor of Benahavís for their commitment and efforts throughout, as well as our members, who have been so understanding by donating the course for the week and supporting both this year’s event and last.”
The event will be promoted by Sportcel, which also promoted and staged the Matrix Jersey Classic in June which was won by Brand Jnr, the runner up in last year’s Benahavis Senior Masters.
Rob Owen, Director of Sportcel Marketing, said: “Following on from our successful staging of the recent Matrix Jersey Classic, we are delighted to extend our relationship with the European Senior Tour by taking on the promoter's role for the Benahavis Senior Open at La Quinta Golf Club.
“We are confident that with the support of the Benahavis authority, La Quinta resort and the Tour we will quickly establish the tournament as a favourite amongst players and fans alike, ensuring its long term commercial success.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “We are delighted with the addition of the Benahavis Senior Masters to the 2010 European Senior Tour schedule which strengthens the climax to an already exciting season for us.
“Last year all of the players enjoyed the unique ambience of the Benahavis region and La Quinta Golf and Country Club and I’m sure they will all be looking forward to returning. We also look forward to working alongside Sportcel again following the successful partnership during the Matrix Jersey Classic last month.”
La Quinta Golf and Country Club was designed by Spanish Ryder Cup player Manuel Piñero and is set in the beautiful region of Benahavis, on the Costa del Sol, which is renowned for its beautiful mountain scenery and outstanding golf courses.
