Midlands' top golfers to tee off at South Staffs Golf Club

A field led by ex-Ryder Cup player Peter Baker will contest the Lotus Financial Solutions Invitational at South Staffs Golf Club in Tettenhall – the first event of the new Midlands PGA Order of Merit season.

And the tournament has remained at its traditional venue with an £8,000 prize fund thanks to South Staffs member Ash Desai.

His company, Lotus Financial Solutions from Newcastle-Under-Lyme, has taken over from previous sponsor PTS to support the two-day event.

The Invitational brings together the top club professionals from across the Midlands but its future at South Staffs was in doubt when PTS ended its sponsorship, which had run for several years.

Baker, who is also head professional at South Staffs, said: "Times change, and we were sorry to lose previous sponsors PTS, who we are indebted to for their years of support and making the tournament such a success.

"It's great to have new sponsors on board now and we're delighted to be able to continue the event with Lotus, the field is full and the course is looking fantastic."

Former European Tour star Paul Broadhurst will also be in the field tomorrow and is scheduled to tee off for his first round at 10.30am in a fourball also featuring Baker and amateur player Desai.

Perton Park professional Jeremy Harrold is in the opening fourball, which gets underway at 7.50am.

Wesley Wilkes, Desai's co-director at Lotus, which has offices in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Newcastle-Under-Lyme, said: "We are incredibly proud and excited to support the Lotus Financial Solutions Invitational at South Staffs Golf Club.

The tournament has had great success in the past as the PTS Invitational and we hope that we can move it forward to bigger and better things for many years to come."

The event has also benefitted from sponsorship contributions from Marstons Brewery and an unnamed South Staffs member.