The qualifiers for the 2016 UniCredit PGA Professional Championship of Europe are poised to begin, as the cream of Europe’s crop of PGA Professionals gather for the first round at Pravets Golf & Spa Resort in Bulgaria.

52 PGA Professionals have descended on the Bulgarian resort for the Association’s flagship 72-hole Championship, representing 21 countries from across the Confederation of Professional Golf’s membership.

Three-time champion, Hugo Santos (PGA of Portugal), makes a return to Pravets seeking his fourth title in the Championship, along with fellow countryman, Tiago Rodrigues.

Local Professional, Stanko Marinov, from the PGA of Bulgaria will compete for the first time in the Championship, whilst Igor Milicic from neighbouring Serbia also makes his debut.

The Mediterranean contingent also includes Francisco Lagarto, Jose Mancebo, Luis Portela Rial from Spain, along with Enrico Vacirca and Zeke Martinez joining Andrea Signor and Federico Elli in representing the PGA of Italy.

The PGA in England’s Craig Shave also returns along with the PGA in Ireland’s Eamonn Brady after their top 10 finishes in the 2015 Championship.

Two of the Confederation of Professional Golf’s International Members are also represented in the field in the form of Johan Smit from PGA of South Africa and Marc-Etienne Bussieres from the PGA of Canada.

The PGA of Austria is well represented with Mike Burrows, Andreas Lauss, and their President, Manfred Krainz, alongside Georg Schultes, whilst the nearby German cohort consists of Florian Jahn, Steffen Kefer, and Dennis Lohrmann.

Switzerland is represented by Simone Castelanelli, Corsin Caviezel and James Johnson, along with Joost Steenkamer, Jan Willem Van Hoof, Inder Van Weerelt and Ralph Miller flying the Dutch flag.

Round 01 of the Championship begins at 09:30 (GMT+3).

For more information visit http://eur.pe/2016PGAProChamps

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For more information on the 2016 UniCredit PGA Professional Championship of Europe visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #PassportToPravets on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.