GOLFING GETAWAYS: Quinta do Lago juniors excel on national golf stage

Holidays
Quinta do Lago golf

Quinta do Lago is leading the race to discover Portugal’s next generation of golfing stars following a period of unprecedented success for its juniors that has seen them win multiple national titles over the last five years.

The world-renowned sports and leisure resort has laid claim to having the most successful junior golf coaching programme in the country, with boys and girls of all ages and abilities enjoying victories on the national stage.

Overseen by head professional and academy manager, Jose Ferreira, and his team of coaches, Quinta do Lago’s junior team features more than 25 children in each development category – elite, competition and beginner – and age group, and each has enjoyed its recent share of the limelight.

Three-time Portuguese champion Calvin Holmes – who romped to an eight-shot win in this month’s Paul McGinley Junior Cup boys’ event – began the winning streak by claiming an acclaimed hat-trick of national titles at under-10, under-12 and under-14 levels.

Sara Gouveia and Rodrigo Santos built on Holmes’ success in 2017, winning the Portuguese under-18 girls and under-10 boys’ titles respectively, and 2019 is on course to be Quinta do Lago’s best year yet with its group of talented youngsters.

Two-time World Kids Golf champion Filipa Capelo, the 2018 Scottish Girls’ Under-16 Open champion, tops the Drive Tour national rankings after three victories this season, Swede Maia Samuelsson is also rated first in the Portuguese Under-18 Girls’ Order of Merit standings, while Gouveia – winner of this year’s Paul McGinley Junior Cup girls’ event – is third in this year’s BPI National Rankings.

Santos and his Quinta do Lago teammate, under-14 ace Tiago Abrantes, are both ranked second in the Algarve region in their respective age groups after a run of impressive results this season while Maria Afonso and Amélia Gabin are first and second in the girls’ under-10 Drive Challenge Regional Tour rankings. In addition, Tiago Sousa and Arthur Fisher both lie second in the standings in their age categories in the same competition.

Ferreira said: “I started creating holiday camps with several levels of development, enabling players of different ages and abilities to have fun and enjoy the game, and we’re now enjoying the rewards. We’re in the middle of a great run and it’s amazing to think that our team includes four national champions in the past three years.”

Situated just 15 minutes from Faro airport in Portugal’s famous Algarve region, Quinta do Lago is dedicated to developing young golfers and, as well as staging the annual McGinley Junior Cup this month, will have the honour of hosting the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship in November.

The resort has been at the forefront of Europe’s elite golf, sports and family destinations for nearly five decades and, with a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities, is the perfect choice for a sporting break.

As well as three 18-hole championship golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at the state-of-the-art performance centre The Campus, a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit.

Complementing the golf facilities is a choice of 13 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious world cuisines – including the acclaimed Bovino Steakhouse and recently-opened Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant – with accommodation on offer at the resort’s recently-acquired boutique Magnolia Hotel.

For more information about Quinta do Lago’s junior academies and to book, phone +351 289 390 700 or email academy@quintadolago.com.

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