Rising stars to shine at Quinta do Lago

The UK’s top young golfers will head to Quinta do Lago in Portugal later this year to compete in the final of the world’s largest junior golf event – and the chance to meet 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

McGinley will take time out from his preparations for next year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles to greet the 21 finalists who will gather at the prestigious Algarve resort for the climax to the Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship from October 9-11.

Quinta do Lago’s iconic South Course, which has staged the Portuguese Open eight times, will host the 54-strokeplay competition as budding stars of the future compete for the chance to succeed 2012 champions Matthew Fitzpatrick and Emily Taylor.

Previous finalists have included the likes of Justin Rose, Tom Lewis, Melissa Reid and Rebecca Hudson and more than 40,000 youngsters will take part in the competition to vie for final places – 12 for boys and nine for girls.

The event was launched in 1985 but this year will be the first time since 1994 that it has returned to the Algarve.

McGinley said: “I’m delighted to be supporting the 2013 Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship. For more than 25 years, the championship has given junior golfers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland the chance to be part of the biggest junior golf competition in the world.

“The calibre of champions over the years illustrates this is one of the ‘Majors’ on the junior golf circuit and a great starting point for many in their golfing careers. I’m looking forward to meeting the finalists at Quinta do Lago in October when they will experience the trip of a lifetime. Good luck to everyone taking part this year.”

Qualifying events will be held at more than 1,000 clubs in the UK and Republic of Ireland throughout the summer and boys and girls of all abilities are welcome to enter.

John Dwyer, chief executive of Quinta do Lago, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the final of such a prestigious event and look forward to meeting the 21 finalists in October when they will compete for the 2013 title on our South Course. We would like to wish all the juniors taking part in this year’s championship the best of luck.”

Quinta do Lago has firmly established itself as one of the most highly regarded golf and residential  developments in the Algarve since opening in 1972.

Since its inception, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of golf in the Algarve with three 18-hole championship courses matched by outstanding practice facilities.

The resort is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in the world which, with regular input from Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain, features the latest in state-of-the-art swing analysis technology at its TaylorMade fitting centre and first-class practice facilities.

Quinta do Lago offers easy access to the Algarve’s famous sandy beaches while the resort’s wide array of restaurants, both formal and informal, allow visitors and residents the opportunity to savour the very best in traditional Portuguese cooking.

*For further details on how to enter the 2013 Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship and a list of qualifying events, visit www.telegraph.co.uk/juniorgolf

For more information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, phone 00351 289 390 700 or go to www.quintadolago.com