JUNIOR STARS HEAD FOR REVAMPED COURSE ON THE ALGARVE

ASHTON TURNER TARGETS JUNIOR 

TITLE DEFENCE AT QUINTA DO LAGO 

NEWS RELEASE

England boy star Ashton Turner will head back to Quinta do Lago on Portugal's southern Algarve coastline next week to defend his title at the finals of the 2014 Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship on the resort’s eagerly-awaited revamped North Course.

Kenwick Park ace Turner, 17, ranked second in Europe in his age category, has received a sponsors’ invite after winning the title by two shots last year and will line-up against the cream of the UK’s top up-and coming golfers for the chance to lift the title at the prestigious venue.

The 21 finalists are in for an added treat this year as they will be among the first golfers to play Quinta do Lago’s totally revamped North Course when the 54-hole stroke-play event is held at the resort for the second year in a row from October 8-10.

The highly-regarded event is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, with the field of 12 boys and nine girls competing for the chance to succeed 2013 champions Turner and Alice Hewson.

The North Course has been redesigned by renowned American architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with Paul McGinley, and the European captain of the winning 2014 Ryder Cup team will be on hand to officially open the new development just 24 hours before the tournament starts.

John Dwyer, chief executive of Quinta do Lago, said: “It’s a great honour for Quinta do Lago to be hosting the final for the second successive year in what is a very important year both for the event and our resort. 

“The redeveloped North Course is part of a significant investment programme that is being undertaken at Quinta do Lago. We received some terrific feedback after hosting the event in 2013 and I think the juniors will be blown away by what they see this year with the new-look North Course.

"The lay-out is very different but very playable and is a real challenge, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the finalists.”

The two winners in Portugal will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former finalists who, in previous years, have included the likes of 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, Tom Lewis, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Melissa Reid, Hayley Davis and Carly Booth.

This year’s championship has attracted one of the strongest fields in the history of the competition including defending boys’ champion Turner, making his third successive appearance in the event and one of a number of England internationals taking part.
Scots in the field of 21 are Ewen Ferguson and Danielle Ker.

Rising stars Jack Singh-Brar, Jamie Li, Lauren Horsford and Lily Downs will also be returning to Quinta do Lago after competing in 2013; India Clyburn will be hoping to continue her recent successful run after winning the English Girls Amateur Championship this summer while Hugo Kedzlie will be the event’s youngest-ever finalist after only turning 14 at the end of last month. (September)

In addition to competing in one of the world’s biggest junior tournaments, the finalists will enjoy a trip to the Portugal Masters during their stay to watch some of the top Tour stars in action  while they will also receive an assortment of the latest top-of-the-range golf equipment from TaylorMade Adidas Golf.

Hundreds of qualifying rounds have been staged at clubs across the UK throughout the summer, with this year’s group of finalists including the winners of a new under-15 net competition for boys and girls.

One of the most talked about development projects in Europe in 2014, Quinta do Lago’s North Course has been redeveloped at a cost of €9.6m and been built to the highest specifications, with the course in line to become the new number one course at the prestigious family resort.

The lay-out has been revamped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.

Among the changes introduced on the par-72, 6,776-yard course, which has been closed since last December, all greens, tees, bunkers, irrigation, drainage systems and cart paths have been rebuilt using the latest state-of-the-art technology, with four sets of tees introduced on each hole to accommodate players of all levels. 

McGinley said: “This has been a very exciting project to be involved in and Beau and I are very proud of what we have created.

“I’ve been coming to Quinta do Lago with my family for many years now and it keeps getting better and better. The new design will test golfers in many different ways and I believe this is a great addition to Europe’s leading destination.”

Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago is one of the most highly regarded golf and residential developments in Europe since opening in 1972.

From the outset, the resort has been at the forefront of European golf with three 18-hole championship courses matched by outstanding practice facilities including a Paul McGinley Golf Academy, a state-of-the-art TaylorMade Fitting Center and new short game area. 

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

TO VIEW JUST WHO HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE FINAL

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For more details about the 2014 Telegraph BMW Golf Championship, visit www.telegraph.co.uk/juniorgolf

For further information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, phone + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com