Amateurs

Promising golfers from eight countries played the 36-hole European Qualifier for the Veritas World Junior Championship, part of GM Junior European Golf Tour and doubling as the GM Spanish Open at La Cala Resort in Mijas, Málaga over two days at the end of January. The winners in the different age categories have now qualified for the international final to be held this summer inLos Angeles,U.S..

The final was the third qualifying event of the Graham Moore Junior Tour. The other two events were held inEngland. Graham, who developed the Tour, is a FPGA golf professional based in theU.K.andMarbella. This is the eight year he has organised a series of competitions for upcoming players that allows them to experience the thrill of competitive golf on a course designed for their age category.

Graham explains: “We don’t use handicaps to differentiate between the players. Instead as Tournament Director I decide where to put the different tees so, for example, all the juniors have a chance of shooting a par, birdie or even an eagle! There is nothing like this in theU.K.or in continentalEurope. In theU.S.andAustralia, they have the correct length of holes to suit each age level. We have age categories from under six to 19 years. We place the tees accordingly and we play off scratch.”

Graham says the decision to choose La Cala Resort for the event was a good one: “We’ve been here in Málaga for a few years now, based inMarbella. We decided this year to move a bit nearer Málaga city and looked atLa Cala. I’m so pleased we came here. It is the most professional support we have received – ever. Next year’s event is already booked for the 26th & 27th January2013.”

The overall winner of the event was eight year-old Alejandro Rodriguez-Andreu from Alicante (Spain). He won in a play-off versus 16-year old category winner George Tyman from the U.K. Alejandro, who also won his category in 2011, was very pleased to retain his title. “It’s great to win again. CampoAsia was difficult but I liked it a lot. The greens and the whole course were in great condition. I’m so happy to have retained my title.”

One of the sponsors of the event was a new French company – Toowap. Toowap is an integrated GPS system with a pitch repairer and divot tool incorporated. Developed inFranceit also allows users to monitor their performance via the internet.

Over the past 20 years,La Cala Resorthas developed into the biggest golf and leisure destination in Spain with 3×18 hole courses, a luxury hotel & spa plus a David Leadbetter Academy. The resort is ideally located in the heart of the Costa del Sol between Marbella and Mijas and only 30 minutes from Málaga Airport.

Visit www.lacala.com for more information.