European Tour winner Rhys Davies has once again lent his support to the Principality Junior Wales Open as the competition returns to Celtic Manor in 2013, aiming to develop the next generation of golfing talent.
Wales’ premier junior golf tournament starts with five regional qualifying events across Wales during the Easter holiday and Davies has urged youngsters to follow in his footsteps by getting an early taste of top competition.
Successful qualifiers will reach a grand final in July played over Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Course, which provided such a dramatic stage for The 2010 Ryder Cup.
Davies watched that Ryder Cup from close quarters as a special assistant to European captain Colin Montgomerie after coming close to earning a spot in the team during a successful rookie season, which included a victory in the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco. His form has dipped since but Davies is hoping to play his way back on to The European Tour this year via the Challenge Tour, having lost his card in 2012.
“The Principality Junior Wales Open has introduced many young golfers to the big tournament stage,” said Davies, who holds the course record of 62 on the Twenty Ten Couse after finishing runner-up in the 2010 Wales Open.
“When I was a junior, the buzz of playing in the bigger events and trying to beat your peers had a massive impact on the development of my game. It was great to be involved in this event last year and see the enthusiasm for competing shown by the youngsters.
“When you get to play on a course which you’ve seen on television in an event like The Ryder Cup with the world’s top players battling it out, it really inspires you. I think this is a fantastic competition for junior golfers.”
The Principality Junior Wales Open tees off at Cardiff’s Radyr Golf Club on March 27 and another qualifier takes place over Celtic Manor’s Roman Road course the following day. The event then heads north to Royal St David’s, Harlech, on April 4, Builth Wells on April 5 and the final qualifier takes place in the west at Langland Bay on April 8.
For an entry fee of £17.50, every competitor gets 18 holes of golf in the regional qualifier, a packed lunch and a goody bag of golfing merchandise from Welsh company Asbri, as well as the chance to bid for top prizes in the grand final.
Enter online at ispshandawalesopen.com by Friday March 15 or call Celtic Manor’s special events team on 01633 410318 for more information.
