The inaugural Gant Ladies Open is set to take place at Aura Golf in Turku next June and will be the last chance for players to qualify for Tokyo 2020 ©LET

The inaugural Gant Ladies Open in June is set to be the final qualifier for the women's golf competition at next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, it has been announced.

The event marks the first time the Ladies European Tour travels to Finland in 10 years. 

Competition is scheduled for June 18 to 20 at Aura Golf in Turku.

Earlier this year, the International Golf Federation announced the qualification window for Tokyo 2020 was extended to June 2021 after the Games were postponed to July 23 to August 8 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Players are able to accumulate points in the Olympic golf rankings until June 21 for men and June 28 for women, with the Gant Ladies Open now the last women's tournament to fall inside that window.  

"It has been a long-term dream to get the Ladies European Tour back in Finland," said Finland Golf Association President Hanna Hartikainen. 

"We are very happy that the pieces have now fell into place - a big thank you to all the collaborators for that. 

"Next summer will be a great show for Finnish golf, and the Gant Ladies Open will be a domestic highlight and a significant step towards the Tokyo Olympics. 

"The international event also supports our position of women in the traditionally male-dominated field of professional sport."

The Tokyo 2020 golf contest is set to be held at Kasumigaseki Country Club ©Getty Images
The Tokyo 2020 golf contest is set to be held at Kasumigaseki Country Club ©Getty Images

Aura Golf is one of the oldest golf courses in Finland and has previously hosted the Gant Open on the 2015 European Challenge Tour and the Finnish Ladies Open on the Swedish Golf Tour.

"We are delighted to return to Finland for the first time in ten years for a brand new event on the Ladies European Tour schedule," said Ladies European Tour chief executive Alexandra Armas.

"We are always looking to present our members with exciting playing opportunities and with Finnish golf on the rise, I am certain that the Gant Ladies Open at Aura Golf will be an interesting tournament for not just our players but for local fans who have never seen our world-class players perform live."

A number of Finnish golfers are likely to join the international field at the Gant Ladies Open, with 11 tournament invitations on offer.

The Tokyo 2020 golf contest is set to be held at Kasumigaseki Country Club, with the women's competition scheduled for August 4 to 7.