ISPS Handa title sponsor of Vic Open

Gavin Kirkman, Midori Miyazaki, Karen Lunn and Simon Brookhouse at the launch of the ISPS Handa Vic Open in 2019.

The pioneering Vic Open will receive ISPS Handa as the main sponsor for the next two years.

Executive director Midori Miyazaki told the tournament offer in Geelong & # 39; s GMHBA Stadium today that ISPS Handa was pleased to partner with the concurrent men's and women's tournament, which will once again find a new path in 2019.

The tournament, which will be held on 13th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads on the Bellarine Peninsula from 7-10 February, will be jointly sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, ALPG, European Tour and PGA Tour or Australasia.

"It's great that these agencies can bring such a big event to a global audience," Miyazaki said.

"The Vic Open has been hugely successful in helping people see golf in a different way in recent years – and ISPS Handa hopes, as always, to do the same.

"We believe in the power of sport to inspire and play a role, perhaps the world's most inclusive tournament will help us spread that message and break down barriers between communities even further."

ISPS Handa is already a major supporter of Australasian golf as title sponsor of the Women's Australian Open, World Super 6 Perth, World Cup or Golf and New Zealand Open, as well as the PGA Tour of Australasia itself and the recent Australian All Abilities Championship and Disabled Cup tournaments that emphasized golfers with disabilities on a global platform.

Steven Pitt, CEO of Golf Australia, said the continued relationship with ISPS Handa by founder Dr. Haruhisa Handa and Ms Miyazaki was a blessing for the Australian wave at all levels

"We are very happy to work together with our good friends at ISPS Handa, especially at another innovative tournament such as the Vic Open," said Pitt.

"ISPS Handa delivers a world class message about empowering sports, so we are very happy to be able to share one of our platforms to spread the news."

The Victorian government, another major moneylender of the Vic Open and its expansion to equal prize money for men and women of $ 1.5 million each, was also pleased to welcome ISPS Handa on board.

Minister of Tourism, Sports and Major Events Martin Pakula said that world-class events, such as the Vic Open, inspire our next generation of star golfers, give economic boost to regional Victoria and create local jobs.

"Together with the recent ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf, the 2019 Presidents Cup and the Emirates Australian Open Golf in 2020 and 2022, the Vic opens Victoria's reputation as the golf capital of Australia," said Pakula.

"We are proud to be the only joint professional golf and golf tournament in Australia and the only tournament in the world where men and women compete for the same prizes on the same course at the same time.

"The Andrews Labor government is proud to work with Golf Australia, City of Greater Geelong and the new title sponsor ISPS Handa from Vic Open to host the 2019 event."

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