A prestigious golf tournament has announced a scoop in attracting a headline group of broadcasters.
BBC journalist and broadcaster Naga Munchetty, Sky Sports reporter Sarah Stirk, talkSPORT radio host Georgie Bingham and BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter will swap their mics for clubs to take part in the Highland Golf Links Pro Am sponsored by Tomatin later this year.
The trio of female golf fanatics will join Ladies European Tour player Sophie Walker in a formidable foursome lined up for the competition over three of Scotland’s top links courses.
Iain Carter will play in a team from Castle Stuart Golf Links, one of the host venues, and will also give an after dinner speech at the prizegiving. Skippering the Castle Stuart team and MC for the prizegiving dinner, will be PGA golf pro Alan Tait, a BBC Radio Scotland commentator who is also well known as an after dinner speaker and host.
The annual Pro Am will be played over the famous championship courses at Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch Golf Club and The Nairn Golf Club from 30 September to 2 October.
The 54-hole event is one of the richest on the PGA in Scotland Tour and has attracted teams from across the UK as well as from Europe and the USA.
Naga, known for her grilling of politicians on morning TV as well as appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, took up golf in 2008 and now has a handicap of 9. She is a fan of the Scottish Highlands and regularly plays in Castle Stuart’s Spire Trophy.
She said: “We are all eager to play at these three wonderful links courses and the Highland Golf Links Pro Am is the ideal occasion.
“The opportunity to play at Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch and Nairn on three successive days in such a prestigious event is one we did not want to miss.”
Sarah is one of the main hosts of Sky Sports golf coverage, working across the European Tour, PGA Tour and Major championships. She has interviewed the world's best golfers at the Sky Sports golf cart but is also an accomplished golfer, playing off 15.
Multi-sports broadcaster Georgie, who has a handicap of 12, hosts the Weekend Sports Breakfast show on talkSPORT with former footballer Tony Cascarino.
Completing their team is Sophie Walker who has been a pro on the LET tour since 2006.
Iain Carter, who has a single-figure handicap, has been the BBC's Golf Correspondent since 2003. Since then he has led commentary teams for Radio 5 Live at major championships and Ryder Cups and travels the world reporting from the game's most important tournaments.
He said: “Playing links golf in the Scottish Highlands is a true pleasure for any golfer, especially at three of the best courses in the country. It will be a privilege to play a part in this major event both on and off the course.”
The Highland Golf Links Pro Am started in 2012 and has grown into a major event on the Scottish golf circuit.
It is open to teams of four players from anywhere in the world consisting of three amateurs (men or women) plus a professional of their choice. Teams that do not include a pro are allocated a leading player from the PGA in Scotland Order of Merit.
Headline sponsors, the globally-renowned whisky distillers Tomatin, were the tournament’s original sponsors, from 2012-2015, and helped establish it as one of the most coveted events on the Scottish golfing calendar.
In addition to the first place cheque, the winning professional will pick up a unique prize of a bottle of Tomatin 50-year-old single malt which has been bottled exclusively for the event and valued at more than £10,000.
All amateur players will receive an exclusive bottle of 16-year-old single malt from a commemorative cask.
The event has also attracted new corporate partners, TaylorMade and Black Isle Brewery.
*A limited number of places are available for the Highland Golf Links Pro Am sponsored by Tomatin. To enter and find out more click here.
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