Quinta do Lago issues invitation to UK’s top junior golfers

The UK’s next generation of golf stars is being invited to take up the challenge of qualifying for the final of the 2016 Telegraph BMW Junior Championship for the chance to experience Quinta do Lago – Europe’s most exclusive sports and lifestyle destination.

Regarded by many including Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley as one of world junior golf’s Majors, the event will see 21 finalists – 12 boys and nine girls – gather at the award-winning venue in Portugal’s Algarve from October 31 to November 4 for the opportunity to join an illustrious list of former champions.

Entering its fourth decade, the prestigious 54-hole stroke play tournament will be returning to Quinta do Lago for the fourth year running, with previous winners including 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Melissa Reid, Hayley Davis and Carly Booth.

England international Jamie Li and rising Ireland amateur star Olivia Mehaffey, ranked 10th in the world, took the boys’ and girls’ titles after three days’ of fierce competition last year, and organisers are expecting another stellar field when the event takes place on Quinta do Lago’s widely-acclaimed North Course for the third year in a row this autumn.

Named as ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ at the 2015 World Golf Awards, Quinta do Lago  is the ideal resort to stage the tournament finale having invested €50 million over the last six years reinventing itself into one of the world’s most vibrant luxury lifestyle experiences.

John Dwyer, chief executive of Quinta do Lago, said: “Quinta do Lago is delighted to be associated with such a prestigious championship for the fourth successive year.

“These are exciting times for the resort and having the opportunity to host such an important event on the junior golfing calendar has played its full part in helping to establish our position among the world’s elite modern sports and lifestyle destinations.”

Qualifying for the 2016 Telegraph BMW Junior Championship began this spring and hundreds of qualifying rounds will be staged at clubs across the UK this summer, with the eventual finalists again including the winners of a nett competition for boys and girls under 18.

Officially opened by McGinley in October 2014, Quinta do Lago’s North Course has quickly risen to become one of the new stars of European golf and, as well as being named ‘Europe’s Best New Golf Course’ at the 2014 World Golf Awards, was a new entry in Golf World’s benchmark Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe 2015/16 rankings.

Situated just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago’s three golf courses championship courses – the North Course, South Course and Laranjal – are matched by outstanding practice facilities including Europe’s only Paul McGinley Golf Academy and the only TaylorMade Performance Center in Southern Europe.

The resort’s enviable location by the beach offers the perfect place to relax and unwind while its wide array of restaurants, both formal and informal, take advantage of the fresh Mediterranean produce that Quinta do Lago has become famous for including its new Bovino Steakhouse and renowned Casa do Lago restaurant.

Away from the fairways, extensive leisure facilities guarantee there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, with events, tennis, cycling and watersports just some of the activities available.

For more details about the 2016 Telegraph Junior Championship and how to enter, call 0344 693 1885 or go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/sport/juniorgolf/ . For more information about Quinta do Lago, visit www.quintadolago.com