Dubai deal boost for Fife amateur event

ORGANISERS of a leading Scottish amateur event have pulled off a major coup by clinching a sponsorship deal with one of the most recognisable brands in golf in recent years.

The East of Scotland Open, held every year at Lundin in Fife, will have 'golf in DUBAi' as its new title sponsor for the next three years. The company are the promoters and organisers of both the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters and have also been individual sponsors of several high-profile players, including Colin Montgomerie.

"Securing a sponsor of the calibre of 'golf in DUBAi' is massive," said David Moir, convener of the event's championship committee since its inception in 1973. "It is vital that we continue to grow our revenues to keep the event at the level which the players have grown accustomed to over the last 38 years."

The event, which will be played this year on 25-26 June, is part of the Scottish Order of Merit and has attracted leading amateurs from all around the world over the last few years.

l Floris de Vries and Justin Walters took huge steps towards places in this year's Open by carding seven under 64s in the first of the two rounds of African International Final Qualifying in Johannesburg yesterday.