The Northern Territory PGA Championship has received a massive boost less than two months out from the event with locally-owned company MMC agreeing to naming rights sponsorship of the event for 2018.

The Championship – to be known as the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship – will be played at the Palmerston Golf Club from 16-19 August for a prize purse of $150,000, marking the third occasion the Championship has been staged on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.

“MMC have been involved as a sponsor of the Palmerston Golf Club in some capacity every year for the past 20 years, so this was a natural step for us to take,” said MMC General Manager Owen Pike.

“The club has been supporting our family in that time too, as well as sponsoring my brother Aaron, who’s a professional on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. Injury sidelined him from playing in the Championship last year but he was still at Palmerston all week caddying for his good mate, Michael Sim.”

Sim, who is due to return again in 2018, is an example of many players that have tasted success on the world stage who have graced the fairways at Palmerston over the first two years of the event. The reigning Queensland Open champion, Sim won three times in one season on the Web.com Tour in the United States and earned an immediate promotion to the PGA TOUR for his efforts.

Many others have been winners in Europe, Asia, and of course, on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“We’ve had guys who have played in major championships compete at Palmerston over the past two years and again this year,” added Pike.

“Just to get that calibre of player to the Territory is fantastic and it helps to grow interest and support in the game of golf at all levels up here.”

Pike and MMC have been passionate proponents of investing in the local community and have been active in pursuing many projects that have led to positive economic impacts.

“This support for the Championship is another means for us to give back,” continued Pike.

“This isn’t just about supporting Palmerston with the tournament; it supports all the other community groups that Cazalys support as well.”

Marketing Manager for the Palmerston Golf Club, Susan Heenan, was thrilled to welcome MMC as naming rights sponsor for the 2018 Championship.

“MMC have been great supporters of the Championship since the tournament’s inception and of the Palmerston Club in general,” said Heenan.

“For the Pike family and MMC to commit to this increased level of involvement with the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship is a tremendous shot in the arm for golf in the Top End.

“This news adds to the anticipation building for the Championship with many exciting players already confirmed – recent WA PGA champion Michael Long, Victorian Open champion Simon Hawkes, former Fiji International winner Steven Jeffress, Ashley Hall, Matthew Millar, Jarryd Felton and last year’s runner-up Deyen Lawson among them – with many more Australian and International players expected to commit in the coming weeks.”

“The MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship remains on track to achieve its long-term vision of being a significant golfing spectacle for the Northern Territory, one which continues to attract broad media interest and tourism attendance.”

The Northern Territory PGA Championship is confirmed to be played on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the next two years.

The Northern Territory Government confirmed today that the professional golf tournament would be played for the next two years with the government committing to provide $150,000 per annum to cover the Northern Territory PGA Championship for 2018 and 2019.

First played in 2016, the 2018 edition of the Northern Territory PGA Championship will be played from 16-19 August at the Palmerston Golf Course.

The Northern Territory Government is thrilled to confirm one of the Top End’s most prestigious and high-profile sporting events for the next two years.

“Golf is one of Australia’s most popular sports and is enjoyed by people of all ages, status and social background, so it is exciting we are delivering this elite level of golf back to the Top End for Territorians to enjoy,” said Mr Ian Ford, Department of Tourism and Culture, Senior Director Sport and Active Recreation.

“The Northern Territory PGA forms part of the professional PGA Tour of Australasia and provides professional golfers with the opportunity to play elite level golf in the Territory.

“Developing the sport of golf in the NT remains high on our agenda, and our contribution of $150,000 per-annum in prize money for the championship is a testament to our commitment to the event, and to the sport of golf in the Territory.

The Northern Territory PGA Championship is not just an opportunity for Territorians to watch live professional golf but provides an important pathway for Australia’s professional golfers.

Forming part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia schedule the Northern Territory PGA Championship will be played for a minimum prize purse of $150,000, Official World Golf Ranking Points and provides the champion full exemption on the Tour until the end of the 2019 season.

“The Northern Territory PGA Championship has flourished over the past two years on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and I am sure it will continue to evolve over the next two thanks to the continued support of the Northern Territory Government,” said Simon Butterly, General Manager of Tournaments for the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Professional golfers are privileged to travel the world and the Territory is certainly a unique destination that they all enjoy visiting and we are confident that an excellent field of players will tee it up at the Northern Territory PGA Championship in August.

“It’s not just the location that attracts players to the tournament. The Northern Territory PGA Championship forms an integral part of our schedule and can help launch a young player’s career.

“In 2017 Travis Smyth won the Northern Territory PGA Championship as an amateur. It was this win that allowed him to launch his Professional career with playing opportunities at home before going on to also secure status on the Asian Tour this year.”

Palmerston Golf Course has proven a worthy host of the Northern Territory PGA Championship for the past two years and will again welcome ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players as it becomes the focus of the Australian golf community.

“We can’t wait to have the spotlight once again on the Palmerston Golf Course for the Northern Territory PGA Championship and welcoming an international field of players as well as emerging players from the Territory, it’s going to be a fantastic four days of competition,” said Susan Heenan, Marketing Manager for Cazalys Palmerston and Palmerston Golf Course.

Butterly further acknowledges the efforts of the Palmerston Golf Course team, “I would also like to thank Palmerston Golf Course and Cazalys Palmerston for their continued vision and commitment to the Northern Territory PGA Championship. The course is continually improving and the club has already put new programmes in place to ensure it will be in peak condition for the Professionals come tournament week.”

City of Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said the City of Palmerston is proud to again be sponsoring this wonderful event.

“Territorians have always had a passion for outdoor sports so we are thrilled to see the Tournament return to Palmerston for the third time. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our city, the influx of visitors will deliver fantastic economic benefits for our local businesses, as well as providing a unique experience for our community. We look forward to welcoming all involved in the 2018 Northern Territory PGA Championship to Palmerston,” said Ms Pascoe-Bell.

The Northern Territory PGA Championship will be played from 16-19 2018 at the Palmerston Golf Course.