The Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort

One of golf's most exciting European events to be staged next month at the Vale Resort (nr Cardiff) has won the backing of leading energy and gas supplier SWALEC.

SWALEC will be the headline sponsors of the prestigious Ryder Cup Wales Challenge Tour event, being held from July 24 – 27 2008, to be battled out on the Vale's stunning and testing Wales National Course.

The event sponsorship is part of a significant commitment by SWALEC (part of Scottish and Southern Energy) to launch an ambitious golf development programme including a new community programme across Wales, set to encourage golf excellence at junior level.

The Ryder Cup Wales Challenge is a showcase event on the European Challenge Tour which sees some of the game's rising stars in golf competing for points to graduate onto The European Tour.

The event is being staged as part of Ryder Cup Wales Summer of Golf, a series of tournaments organised across Wales each year to promote golf and to celebrate Wales as the host of The Ryder Cup in 2010.

This year's event looks set to bring thousands of spectators to the Vale Resort with an impressive competitor line-up with players from more than 20 countries taking part. Last year's Challenge was won by 29-year old Irish professional Colm Moriarty and it is expected that one of Wales' star golfers Stephen Dodd will be competing this year for a share in the 140,000 (Euro) prize fund.

Managing Director of the Vale Resort, Stephen Leeke said: “We are very pleased to be hosting this very exciting and important golf event in association with SWALEC and Ryder Cup Wales. We believe our Wales National course will provide a testing but fair challenge to some of the top names in European golf. We look forward to welcoming the players and visitors back here to our hotel, spa and golf facilities for the fifth time to enjoy what will be a thrilling four days of golf.”

SWALEC National Sales Manager Alan Williams said: “SWALEC is proud to support some of Wales' most prestigious sporting events and following on from our commitment to rugby and cricket we are delighted to be sponsoring one of Wales' most exciting golf events. The SWALEC Wales Challenge Tour marks the start of a new commitment to golf development in Wales for SWALEC which will see golf promoted and supported at grass roots level.

“The Challenge Tour acts as a breeding ground for world golf champions of the future and to have one of its events here is Wales is a fantastic opportunity for SWALEC to be part of a world-class tournament.”

Chairman of Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd., John Jermine said: “Owners of the Vale Resort, the Leeke family have been great supporters of Welsh sport for many years and I know that they, like us, are delighted to be welcoming SWALEC on board in association with what will be the SWALEC Wales Challenge. We all look forward to working with them in taking the already successful Challenge Tour event to a new level. I am sure that the association with SWALEC will assist us in attracting the very best up and coming golfers to The Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort."

For more information on the Ryder Cup Wales Challenge Tour please contact the Vale Resort on (01443) 665899 or visit www.rydercupwales2010.com