With The 2010 Ryder Cup less than two years away, Ryder Cup Wales is helping to ensure that the most talented young professionals in Wales are benefiting and has, today, named the five golfers who will be able to play in 2009 on the Challenge Tour giving them the opportunity to qualify for the main Tour.

2009 is the seventh consecutive season that Ryder Cup Wales has been able to secure invitations for Welsh players to compete on the Challenge Tour in events across Europe and invitations have been awarded to Rhys Davies, Tim Dykes, Mark Laskey, Matthew Griffiths and Craig Smith.

John Jermine, Ryder Cup Wales Chairman, said: "It will be a great opportunity for our most talented young golfers to test themselves against the best in Europe and we wish them good luck. Success will open the doors for them to play on the main Tour and follow in the footsteps of Ian Woosnam, Phil Price, Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge all of whom have been great ambassadors for Wales".

Rhys Davies from Bridgend and Wrexham’s Tim Dykes have both been awarded the maximum number of sponsors invitations to Challenge Tour events in addition to the SWALEC Wales Challenge event that will be played at the Vale Hotel and Golf Resort in July.

Davies, who enjoyed a hugely successful amateur career before turning professional at the end of 2007, played his first professional tournament in Wales last May at The Celtic Manor Wales Open followed by the SWALEC Wales Challenge where the local favourite equalled the course record on day two of the event.

Recently the 23 year old Welshman came agonisingly close to securing his maiden professional title, only to fall two shots shy at the Singha Thailand Open. Davies’ runner-up finish saw the man from Bridgend move to eighth in the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$69,030.

Tim Dykes, a regular in the Welsh International team, said: "Having access to invitations to play on the Challenge Tour is a major benefit for young Welsh golfers and an important stepping stone on the way to the top. I am grateful to Ryder Cup Wales and the Sports Council for Wales for their continued support and this fantastic opportunity to compete alongside the very best players in Challenge Tour events throughout Europe."

A number of the recipients of Challenge Tour invites are also supported by The National Lottery funded Élite Cymru programme which supports five professional players and five amateurs by providing sports science support, medical back-up, career and education advice, coaching, financial help as well as access to first-class training facilities.

Previous beneficiaries include Wales’ own Bradley Dredge, Stephen Dodd and Becky Brewerton. The Golf Union of Wales also provides support to a further eight young golfers via the Talent Cymru programme who will aim to graduate onto Élite Cymru.

Philip Carling, Chair of Sports Council for Wales, said: "The partnership between Sports Council for Wales and Ryder Cup Wales is ensuring that young Welsh golfers are receiving the support needed to make it in the professional ranks. Wales has a strong pedigree when it comes to golf and these Challenge Tour spots will further the ambitions of the nation’s rising stars."

Since winning the bid to host the Ryder Cup the Sports Council for Wales’ Élite Cymru programme has supported young talented professionals in Wales and success on the Challenge Tour has helped a number of them to gain their playing cards for the full European Tour including Kyron Sullivan, in 2007, and most recently, Stuart Manley, who has won his full card for 2009.

In 2008 24 invitations were awarded to 7 Welsh professionals who played in 13 tournaments throughout Europe gaining invaluable experience of international competition. An additional 20 Welsh golfers were also able to compete in the SWALEC Wales Challenge event at the Vale Hotel and Golf Resort, together with 6 Welsh Amateurs who were also invited to the event.