Clutch Pro Tour#Tier 2 Order of Merit winners
{{short description|Professional golf tour}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Clutch Pro Tour
| current_season = 2025 Clutch Pro Tour
| last_season =
| logo =
| pixels = 200px
| caption =
| formerly = Mizuno Next Gen Series
| sport = Golf
| founded = 2019
| fame =
| motto =
| inaugural = 2020
| teams =
| countries = Based in England{{efn|Schedules have also included events in Morocco, Northern Ireland, Oman, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Wales.}}
| venue =
| champion =
| most_champs = Tournament wins:
{{flagicon|ENG}} Giles Evans (6)
| qualification =
| folded =
| website = https://www.clutchprotour.co.uk/
| ceo = Tom Hayward
| director =
| TV =
| related_comps = Tartan Pro Tour
| Founder = Tom Hayward
}}
The Clutch Pro Tour is a series of developmental golf tournaments played predominantly in England. The tour is open to both male and female professionals.
History
The tour was created in 2019 by Tom Hayward, a former professional golfer, to give lower level professionals more playing opportunities as well as helping progress their careers. The inaugural season took place after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in June 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/tour-news/the-clutch-pro-tour-the-new-uk-golf-tour-for-male-and-female-pros-198727 |title=The Clutch Pro Tour - The New UK Golf Tour For Male and Female Pros |magazine=Golf Monthly |first=Elliott |last=Heath |date=3 June 2020 |access-date=10 June 2023}}
In May 2022, the tour undertook a sponsorship agreement with Mizuno Golf, being renamed as the Mizuno Next Gen Series.{{cite web |url=https://mizunogolf.com/uk/blog/mizuno-next-gen-series-announced/ |title=Mizuno 'Next Gen' Series Announced |publisher=Mizuno Golf |date=31 May 2022 |access-date=11 June 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://golfbusinessnews.com/news/sponsorship-and-events/mizuno-backs-clutch-pro-tours-next-gen-series/ |title=Mizuno backs Clutch Pro Tour's 'Next Gen' series |work=Golf Business News |date=31 May 2022 |access-date=11 June 2023}}
In December 2022, it was announced that the Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour would become official feeder tours to the Challenge Tour in place of the now-defunct PGA EuroPro Tour. The Clutch Pro Tour would offer Challenge Tour status to the top two players on the Order of Merit.{{cite web |title=Clutch Pro Tour to become Official Feeder Tour to the Challenge Tour |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/clutch-pro-tour-to-become-official-feeder-tour-to-the-challenge-tour/ |date=21 December 2022 |access-date=10 June 2023 |publisher=European Tour}} In December 2023, it was confirmed that an additional player (three in total) from the Order of Merit would be awarded Challenge Tour status for the following season.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/paul-lawrie-delighted-to-see-tartan-pro-tour-offer-two-challenge-tour-cards-in-2024-4443579 |title=Paul Lawrie delighted to see Tartan Pro Tour offer two Challenge Tour cards in 2024 |newspaper=The Scotsman |first=Martin |last=Dempster |date=13 December 2023 |access-date=14 January 2023}} Each event is a 54-hole tournament with a 36-hole cut for the 50 plus ties. Beginning in 2025, the tour also has a season-ending no-cut championship and a qualifying tournament.
In April 2024, it was announced that the tour would be included into the Official World Golf Ranking with immediate affect, having undergone a 17-month application process.{{cite web |url=https://www.owgr.com/news/clutch-pro-tour |title=Clutch Pro Tour |publisher=Official World Golf Ranking |date=25 April 2024 |access-date=25 April 2024}}{{cite magazine |url=https://irishgolfer.ie/latest-golf-news/2024/04/26/owgr-announces-ranking-points-for-54-hole-clutch-pro-tour/ |title=OWGR announces ranking points for 54-hole Clutch Pro Tour |magazine=Irish Golfer |first=Ronan |last=McNamara |date=26 April 2024 |access-date=17 May 2024}}
Order of Merit winners
| class=wikitable
!Year!!Winner!!Points | ||
| align=center|2024 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Callan Barrow | align=center|1,970 |
| align=center|2023 | {{flagicon|ENG}} George Bloor | align=center|4,129 |
| align=center|2022 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Giles Evans | align=center|4,098 |
| align=center|2021 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Daniel Gaunt | align=center|3,063 |
| align=center|2020 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mitch Waite | align=center|5,228 |
Tier 2
In October 2022, the tour announced a new second-tier to their ecosystem. The tier 2 was added to increase playing opportunities and prize money for players, with the top 15 on the Tier 2 Order of Merit earning status to play on the main Clutch Pro Tour for the following season.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/clutch-pro-tour-unveils-new-changes-ahead-of-2023-season |title=Clutch Pro Tour Unveils New Changes Ahead Of 2023 Season |magazine=Golf Monthly |first=Matt |last=Cradock |date=22 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2023}}{{cite tweet |author=Clutch Pro Tour |user=clutchprotour |number=1600802911587831808 |title=Proud to release the Tier 2 OOM on The Mizuno Next Gen Series 2023 |date=8 December 2022 |access-date=15 October 2023}}
=Tier 2 Order of Merit winners=
| class=wikitable
!Year!!Winner!!Points | ||
| align=center|2024 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Jack Madden | align=center|1,655 |
| align=center|2023 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Conor White | align=center|3,567 |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official|https://www.clutchprotour.co.uk/}}
{{Men's Professional Golf Tours}}
{{Clutch Pro Tour seasons}}