Delighted teenager Alec Tate is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Ryder Cup heroes Luke Donald and Justin Rose after clinching a spot in the finals of the European Junior Open.
Alec, a member of the Ellesmere College Golf Academy, will jet off to Spain in November after earning a place at the prestigious tournament after a qualifying event at the Telford Hotel and golf resort. Tate sealed the tie with three other juniors after shooting a gross score of 77.
Donald and Rose are past winners of the competition, which sees the best young talent in Europe converge on the Costa Del Sol.
The Junior European Open in association with the Daily Express is widely believed to be the toughest test in junior golf in the UK.
Tate, who is a member of Burghill Valley Golf Club, said: “I am delighted and looking forward to the tournament, I’m going to go out there and will do what I can do. Hopefully I can just enjoy it and take in the experience”.
The 16-year-old, who has played for Shropshire and Herefordshire County Under 14’s, Under 16’s and Under 18’s, will compete in the four-round championship at Finca Cortesin, recent venue for the Volvo World Matchplay, on the Costa Del Sol with an aim to make the cut for the fifth and final day’s play.
“It’s a five round competition over five days and there’s a cut too. I have never played in a competition with a cut so that will be something different.” He said