The winner of this weekend’s Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship can look forward to a bumper payout of $11,200 (£5,600), as well as recognition within an increasingly competitive sport.

Established in 1981, the Duramed Futures Tour is now recognised around the world and it is seen as the primary training ground for female golfers who ultimately join the LPGA Tour.

It attracts talented golfers from 26 different nations and this year’s purse has been increased to an impressive $1.6 million (£800,000).

The luscious par-72 course will certainly provide a test for the aspiring professionals and they will need to demonstrate consistency across three rounds of golf.

Allison Fouch, who has made a habit of finishing second in recent months, is now leading the Duramed Futures Tour with $20,927 (£10,500) in the bank. Any slip up at the Mercedes-Benz tournament could be costly, however, with Emily Bastel, Liz Janangelo and Janell Howland all within $4,000 (£2,000) of her total.

The Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship will take place between May 18th and May 20th and the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas and Western Missouri will benefit from a generous donation.

Mercedes-Benz is also a keen supporter of golf in the UK, where keen amateurs are being invited to take part in the prestigious Mercedes Challenge Cup. The national final will take place in Dubai next February and competition is likely to be fierce.

Accurate iron-players are also in with a chance of driving home in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but a hole-in-one will be needed for this particular prize.