SLGA lands sponsorship deal for elite squad

MARKING the most significant step in a new "business-like" approach, the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has clinched a new sponsorship deal believed to be worth close to £10,000.

The three-year agreement with Aberdeen Asset Management will provide support for the SLGA's elite squad and, according to its chairman Sheila Malcolm, is the organisation's most significant sponsorship in recent years.

"We have tried in the last few years to modernise a bit and be a bit more businesslike in what we are trying to achieve," said Malcolm. "Aberdeen Asset Management are great sponsors of Scottish golf and we are delighted to have them on board."

The company also backs the Scotland men's amateur team and the Scottish Golf Academy as well as Scots golfers Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle, Mhairi MacKay and Simon Yates. "At Aberdeen we are firm believers in supporting golf at all levels from the professionals all the way through to the amateur and grass-roots level," said chief executive Martin Gilbert.

The agreement was announced at Craigielaw, the host venue for next week's Scottish Ladies' Amateur championship, and was warmly welcomed by two members of the elite squad, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).

"It is good to be in the squad as it is but this support is definitely a step in the right direction," said Turner, who recently retained the British Universities' title.

Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Laura Murray (Alford) are the other members of the squad at present.