12 spots for junior (U18) players are available on the European team that will take on the USA in Rome from 26 to 28 September ahead of the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup.
Three girls and three boys will be automatically selected for the team through a season-long qualifying ranking. Eligible players score points for their performances at selected international amateur events across Europe.
The French International Junior Championships, contested over Easter weekend, marked the third events in the qualifying rankings for both boys and girls.
European team captain, Stephen Gallacher, travelled to the French capital to scout some of the continent’s top junior talent. The former Ryder Cup winner will select six players for the team that will travel to Rome in September.
Louis Anceaux was the star of the week at Golf de Saint-Germain. After finishing 5th in the stroke play qualifying, the French junior cruised through the first four match play rounds to earn a spot in the championship match with Scotland’s Connor Graham.
The 36-hole final looked like it was going to slip away from Anceaux, who found himself 3-down after 21 holes. The French player fought back to level the match however, extending the contest into sudden-death. Anceaux would ultimately claim the Carlhian Trophy, and the biggest title of his junior career, on the 3rd extra hole.
The win moves him from 5th up to pole position of the boys’ Ranking. Runner-up, Connor Graham, sits in second position, while leader after the first two events, Sean Keeling (IRL) currently occupies the final automatic selection spot.
In the girls’ event, the Esmond Trophy, Rocio Tejedo (ESP) continued her excellent run of form this season adding yet another top-5 finish to her resume. The Spanish junior reached the semi-finals at Golf de Saint Cloud in Paris, a performance good enough to keep her at the top of the qualifying rankings.
Meja Örtengren was the player of the week in France. The Swede, who lost in the semi-finals of the event last year, managed to defeat Rocio Tejedo in the semi-finals, and Andrea Revuelta in the final to claim the title. The win moves her from 7th up to 2nd position in the ranking and into the automatic qualifying spots.
Nora Sundberg (SWE), who won the Spanish Amateur Championship last month, completes the top three after a tied 9th finish in Paris.
The German Boys and Girls Open, set to take place on the first week of June at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, will be the next chance for players to score points for the rankings and impress captain, Stephen Gallacher.
