Photo: nickvokegolf

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Sport John Eren today visited 13^th Beach Golf Course to announce that a record $1.5 million in prize money will be up for grabs for both the men and women competing.

The open is Australia’s only joint men’s and women’s state professional golf tournament and the only tournament in the world where men and women compete for equal prize money, on the same course at the same time.

The announcement means the prize money for the tournament has increased tenfold since moving to 13^th Beach in 2013, having gone from $300,000 to $3 million. The Victorian Budget 2018/19 allocated funds to help lock the Vic Open in at 13th Beach Golf Course until 2022.

The prize money will enhance the tournament’s ability to attract the world’s top golfers and bring it one step closer to securing a spot on the men’s and women’s European Tour and potentially the LPGA US Women’s Tour.

Together with the Presidents Cup in 2019, and the Emirates Australian Open Golf locked in for 2020 and 2022, the Vic Open will showcase one of our state’s internationally renowned golf courses, adding it to the bucket list of golf players and fans worldwide.

World-class events like these tournaments give an economic boost to regional Victoria and create jobs for locals, which is why the Labor Government is bringing them to regional Victoria.

More than 300,000 Victorians play golf at more than 350 courses across the state, supporting 6,900 jobs and contributing $883.6 million to the state’s economy. The Vic Open will take place at 13^th Beach Golf Course in Barwon Heads from Feb 7-10.