For the second consecutive year Pravets Golf Club is the host of the prestigious tournament, which started yesterday

In the late Sunday afternoon in Pravets the second UniCredit 2012 PGA Professional Championship of Europe was started.

The best club professionals, who qualified after challenging qualifications in over 30 European countries, are taking part in the championship under the auspices of the prime-minister, Mr. Boyko Borisov. Last year's champion, Hugo Santos, as well as his main competitor Ben Collier will be among the participants and their participation this year promises a challenging and interesting competition for the impressive prize of EUR 60 thousand. The championship has 4 rounds which will take place between 17.09 and 20.09.2012.

Neither the rain, nor the low temperatures stopped more than 100 of the best Bulgarian golf amateurs to stand side by side with the PGA professionals during the UniCredit Pro-Am Golf Championship on Sunday, which preceded the UniCredit 2012 PGA Professional Championship of Europe. UniCredit Bulbank, Mazda - official transport services provider, Glenfiddich, Domaine Boyar and Carlsberg are the official sponsors of the event.

The European Champion for 2011, Hugo Santos was the professional player in the UniCredit team, and the winner of last year's UniCredit ProAm, Lyubomir Kostov, one of Bulgaria's blooming talents, played for the Mazda team. The young golf player will soon be part of the Bulgarian national team, which will present our country in Turkey this autumn at the World Amateur Golf Team Tournament.

Ian Randell, executive officer of the PGAs of Europe, greeted the 80 children from local schools, who participated in the Youth programme for golf development. In 2012 the programme was financed by PGAs of Europe. The volleyball legend, Mr. Lyubo Ganev, presented certificates to the children who had graduated the programme this year.

The minister for physical education and sport, Mr. Svilen Neykov, the CEO of UniCredit Bulbank, Mr. Levon Hampartzoumian, who was the general sponsor of the championship, and other sponsors and golf friends in Bulgaria attended the opening ceremony of the European Golf Championship for Club Professionals 2012.

First in the UniCredit ProAm 2012 with 84 points was the team of Todor Kutsarov, Niki Penev, Vladimir Marinov and the Israelian golf professional - Oren Geri. Second with 82 points was the team of Ivan Ivanov, Andon Tushev, Bobi Malinov and Frederic Almskoug of Sweden. Third with 82 points were Gencho Hristakiev, Kiril Krastev, Rayan Staykov and Lukas Lizanek of Slovakia.

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Viktoria Blajeva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 963, flbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch