WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn has announced an exciting new event concept on the WPGA Tour schedule.
The Athena is a compact two-day event to be played at Coolangatta Tweed Heads Golf Club in Northern NSW from February 20-21, and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo from 12:30pm to 4:30pm each day (AEDT).
The Athena is a concept developed by Evolve Sports Group and will be operated by the WPGA Tour of Australasia. The Athena will focus on the emerging and future stars of women’s golf, with the players identified by WPGA as the best of Australia’s many talented young stars. The Athena is designed to test the player’s skills in challenging situations which they would expect when playing against the best players in the world and in a way that is entertaining for sports fans.
Only twelve (12) players are selected to compete by the WPGA Futures Advisory Panel, with the field being a mix of professionals and elite amateur players. The field is a “who’s who” of Australia’s brightest young stars and includes 2020 European Tour Rookie of the Year, Steph Kyriacou and Australia’s number one ranked junior golfer, 16-year-old Justice Bosio, together with Montana Strauss, Rebecca Kay and Kristalle Blum, all “Holey Moley” contestants.
“We are extremely excited about this new form of competition golf which will celebrate the incredible local female talent we are blessed with here in Australia,” says Lunn. “We want the Australian public to relate to our future stars and support them on their journey as they lead Australian golf and progress their golfing careers on the world’s biggest stages. Our vision for The Athena is to create sustainable events held annually to showcase Australia’s future female stars, whilst engaging with a new demographic of golf fans in ways never seen before in golf broadcasts. The Athena will invite innovation to broadcast and competition golf while respecting the game we love.”
The winner will receive $30,000, and an adidas contract for the remainder of 2021.
The Athena Competition Format:
Day 1 (February 20th) is “The Combine, wearing adidas Golf” where players will need to pull off clutch shots under pressure to earn points towards their ‘Combine Ranking’.
“Being progressive is what we are all about at adidas Golf, and I believe that The Athena concept is brilliant and plays directly into our overall vision,” said Darryn Lowe, general manger of adidas Golf Pacific.
There will be 9 shots attempted by each player, with an optimum target nominated by the WPGA Futures Advisory Panel. The 9 shots will be released on the WPGA Facebook page on February 10 at 10am so that players have time to practise and perfect these skill shots. The leading eight (8) players from the final ‘Combine Ranking’ progress to Day 2.
Day 2 (February 21st) is “The Callaway REVA Playoffs” where the leading eight players from the combine compete for The Athena title, the $30,000 winner’s cheque and an adidas Golf endorsement contract.
“It is a true innovation in our sport and is very pleasing to see the emerging stars of women’s golf in Australia back on the course and in front of an international audience.” says Matt Meredith, managing director of Callaway Golf South Pacific. “The Callaway brand is synonymous with women golfers all over the world and we look forward to supporting this amazing initiative.”
The Field
Stephanie Kyriacou (NSW) @steph.kyriacou
Karis Davidson (QLD) @karisdavidson_golf
Robyn Choi (QLD) @robyn.choi1703
Rebecca Kay (QLD) @beckyykay
Montana Strauss (VIC) @montanastrauss
Julienne Soo (VIC) @juliennesoo
Kristalle Blum (SA) @kristalle_blum
Tahnia Ravnjak (NSW) @tahniaravgolf
Steph Bunque (VIC) @stephaniebunque
Justice Bosio (QLD) (amateur) @justice.bosio
Kono Matsumoto (VIC) (amateur) @kono0802
Sarah Wilson (QLD) (amateur) @sarahwilson270
The quarter finals and semi-finals in The Playoffs are head-to-head 5-hole stroke play match.
The Final will be a head to head 3-hole stroke play match.
