After a break  over the summer, the Triple A World Junior Golf Series started strongly into the new season 2020/2021 with the first Series WAGR event, the Triple A European Masters.

The tournament took place at the Jason Floyd Golf Academy’s new home of San Roque Golf Club, on the New Course.

Nino Palmquist of Sweden and Cristina Albertazzi of Italy were crowned Triple A European Masters Champions of 2020 on Sunday evening after comprehensive performances in the U21 Boys and Girls categories on the San Roque Club, New Course.

U21 Boys

Palmquist was the front runner throughout the tournament in the U21 boys after solid opening rounds of 69, 69 (-6) with JFGA students Max Feistmantl (74, 68 (-2)) Robin Metzger (69, 74 (-1)) in hot pursuit.

Winning a golf tournament is never easy, and this proved to be true come Sunday. A three shot swing on the par 5 11th involving a lost ball, stuck up a tree for Palmquist leading to a double bogey 7 and a simple birdie 4 for Metzger reduced the lead to just 3 shots with 7 to play.

The final Par 5 of the tournament, the short 16th hole provided the final blow for Metzger’s chase. After two solid shots, Metzger left himself a 15 foot eagle putt, whilst Palmquist had a tricky 30 yard pitch. Expertly executed, Palmquist’s ball pitched on the green, checked up and released into the hole for eagle. With Metzger two putting for birdie, Palmquist’s lead become too significant to chase down, resulting in his first WAGR victory, earning him status on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

U21 Girls

Following a similar trend, the U21 category was a hard fought affair, with Cristina Albertazzi’s up and down first two rounds (74, 81 (+11)) and the consistent Lucia Esteban Hernandez (77, 78 (+11)) going into the final 18 holes tied for the lead.

After nervy opening nines, Albertazzi (40 +4), Hernandez (42, +6), the Italian took a 2 shot lead into the final 9 holes.

Under the pressure, both girls performances flourished. After two opening bogeys on 10 and 11, Hernandez proceeded to play 3 under for her final 7 holes, pushing Albertazzi right to the end.

After bogeying the simple par 5 16th, with two difficult finishing holes to come and a red hot competitor, Albertazzi kept her cool with two closing pars to take victory by 2 shots.

With this also being Albertazzi’s first WAGR victory, she too will also join the World Amateur Golf Ranking.