Leading car manufacturer Mazda has become presenting sponsor of the Kärnten Golf Open, the Challenge Tour event which is supported by European Tour champion Markus Brier’s Foundation.
From June 2-5, 2011, the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda will return to Golf Club Klagenfurt-Seltenheim in Klagenfurt, Austria, the scene of home hero Martin Wiegele’s one-shot win last year.
In a stunning coincidence, for the second year in succession Wiegele aced the par three eighth hole on the final day to win a brand new Mazda CX-7.
In his very next appearance, Wiegele went on to win the dual-ranking SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC to join his compatriot Brier on The European Tour.
Günther Kerle, CEO of Mazda Austria, said: “We are delighted to upgrade our involvement to the level of presenting sponsor as we have enjoyed two unbelievable years as a partner of this event, with Martin winning a Mazda CX-7 both years with a hole in one.”
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “It is tremendous news to welcome Mazda as title sponsors, as it shows the strength of this tournament and the Challenge Tour in general that we are able to attract such big international companies. This tournament has grown in stature over the past two years, thanks in no small part to the involvement of Markus Brier, a long-time supporter of the Tour, and I’m sure with Mazda’s sponsorship the event will continue to prosper in the coming years.”
Mazda Austria has also agreed a multi-year sponsorship deal with tournament promoters Ticon Sports and Austrian Florian Praegant, who is currently eighth in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Peter Hofstätter, owner of Ticon Sports, said: “We are very pleased to announce this agreement, which will see Florian drive a Mazda and wear the logo on his shirt. We are delighted Mazda will build on the foundations laid by the Markus Brier Foundation, the presenting partner for the first two years on the event. Markus has played in both editions and helped us immensely in developing this tournament, so we should also thank him for all his efforts.”
Two-time Challenge Tour champion Brier, currently 37th in The Race to Dubai after two top ten finishes on The European Tour this season, finished fifth at GC Klagenfurt-Seltenheim last year and fourth in 2009.
