GOLF LINKS HELP SALLY SECURE NEW FUNDING PACKAGE
News Release
Castle Stuart Golf Links
- New sponsorship deal for Scots golfer
- Castle Stuart and Stanford connections help Sally’s progress
- Backing will assist talented player with LPGA ambition
A connection that brings together Tiger Woods, Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, Condoleezza Rice and Castle Stuart Golf Links has helped a rising star of the golf world secure a new sponsorship deal.
Sally Watson, 23, from Elie in Fife, has received backing, to help pursue her ultimate ambition of playing on the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Tour in the US, from a businessman with connections to her alma mater, Stanford University in California.
Sally, who competed in last week’s Ricoh Women´s British Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, currently tops the LET (Ladies European Tour) Rookie of the Year table.
She finished joint 18th in the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters earlier this month, having shared the lead after two rounds, and currently lies 30th in the LET Order of Merit.
Having twice represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup, she turned professional last year after graduating with a BA in international relations from the university, where her academic adviser was Prof Condoleezza Rice, the former US Secretary of State and one of the first women to become members of the exclusive Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods and 2014 US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson also attended Stanford.
Sally’s time at Stanford led to her becoming the first touring professional to be sponsored by Castle Stuart and wear the club’s logos.
Mark Parsinen, managing partner of Castle Stuart and co-designer of the course that hosted the Scottish Open from 2011-2013 - and will host again in 2016 - is a Stanford graduate.
The connection continues with the new sponsor, who does not wish to be named but is a friend of Mr Parsinen and a former student at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
Sally said: “I am extremely grateful for this most generous support, which is an enormous help to me as I begin my career as a professional golfer.
“Securing sponsorship as a rookie professional can be difficult and this support will be invaluable as I pursue my ambition of becoming a member of both the LET and the LPGA.
“I am very proud to fly the flag for Castle Stuart Golf Links which is a fantastic course, highly regarded around the world due to its involvement with the Scottish Open. My connection to Mark Parsinen and Castle Stuart via Stanford led to the introduction to the new sponsor. I am delighted that my fellow Stanford alumni have shown their confidence in me in such a tangible and helpful way.”
Mark Parsinen added: “I am delighted the Stanford connection is helping Sally as she embarks on this new stage of her career. Hopefully it can help her progress further and see her flying the Castle Stuart flag on the LPGA tour in future.”
Castle Stuart Golf Links opened in 2009 and has since become internationally renowned among both amateur and professional players. It is consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 courses by prestigious publications, including Links Magazine and Golf Course Architecture.
The course hosted the Scottish Open for three successive years from 2011 with the 2013 competition, won by Phil Mickelson, reaching a television audience of more than 500 million.
It was announced on Sunday that the tournament will return to Castle Stuart in 2016.
For more information contact
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593/ 07730 099617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
Tags:
