Perse golfer makes the cut for major European tournament
Alexander (Lower Sixth) is ready to tee off against the continent’s top young golfers after qualifying for the Junior European Open in Spain.
The Perse golfer booked his place in the prestigious tournament, which takes place at the Alcaidesa Link Resort in Cadiz in November, after finishing runner-up in a qualifying tournament at Whitefields Golf Club, Rugby.
Alexander, who is a member of Gog Magog Golf Club, was delighted to have made it through to the Junior European Open.
He said: “There was a field of 30 to 40 golfers and only the top two automatically qualified. It was the first time, I’d played at this course, but I played really well.
“The course set-up suited my game in terms of it being reasonably narrow and not super long, but I was in an early group and when I finished, I was top.
“I had to wait for another hour-and-a-half for other people to come in and see if they got better scores, so it was quite nerve-racking, but I finished second in the end which was good enough to qualify.”
Alexander is looking forward to the challenge of the Junior European Open, and he already has an insight into what to expect from the Spanish course, having played at a tournament in Malaga last year.
He said: “I just feel it will be a great experience. It will probably be the biggest tournament I’ve played in against a field stacked with top young players. I’ll just look to play as well as I can and see how it compares to everyone else.”
The format of the Junior European Open will see competitors play four rounds, with each golfer’s two best scores being combined to produce a total from which the top players make the cut for a fifth and final round.
As an added incentive for doing well, Sky Sports will be producing a highlights show of the final round.
In the meantime, Alexander, who switched his focus from tennis to golf five years ago, will be practising as much as he can to ensure he is in the best form possible.
He said: “I played almost every day during the summer and at the moment I try to do as much as I can after school before it gets dark.”