THE Yorkshire PGA Championship, which again figures at Willow Valley this year as the flagship event of the Yorkshire PGA Tour, has an earlier date than normal in June.

The long-running tournament, won last term by Sheffield’s Robert Wragg, is booked in at the Clifton venue for June 15-16 with a pro-am on the third day and will carry a £6,000 prize fund, the champion collecting £2,000. Pro-am cash and amateur vouchers will run to £3,000.

Record prize money of more than £135,000 is on offer in Yorkshire major championships and pro-ams this year, up by some £30,000 on 2009 which Tournament Director Jimmy Pape described as ‘fantastic’.

Pape and tournament controller-treasurer Malcolm Scott have made big efforts over the close season in attracting new events and sponsors.

Though the recession is showing signs of improving, Pape said: “It’s fantastic to have defied the financial situation like we have. New events at Waterton Park, Shipley, Mid Yorkshire and Flaxby Park have come on board, and there’s a strong possibility of more to come.”

Points from six major tournaments will again count for the Yorkshire Order of Merit topped last season by Adrian Ambler (Walton Golf Centre) after a keen duel with Woodsome Hall’s Chris Hanson that went to the wire at the final of the matchplay championship, the last event of the year.

Along with the matchplay – that runs throughout the season – the counting events are the Links Challenge, Yorkshire PGA Championship, Yorkshire Open, Yorkshire Classic and the Sandburn Masters.

A host of pro-ams include ones at Dewsbury, Crow Nest Park and Crosland Heath while the richest will likely be the two-day ESG Dubai event at Cottingham Parks in September. Hanson won that last season when part of his prize was an all-expenses paid trip to a tournament in Dubai.

Fixby will host an event on The Players Tour, the professional circuit based in Cheshire, on May 6.