TALENTED teenager Oliver Farrell again showed he is a potential top golfing star of the future by claiming third place in the 2014 Telegraph BMW Junior Championship boys’ event, which was held at Quinta do Lago in Portugal.
Farrell, who plays at Evesham Golf Club, came up against some of the UK’s top up and coming golfers in the Algarve but more than held his own in the 54-hole event on Quinta do Lago’s redeveloped North Course, following up an opening round of 73 with two rounds of 71.
His final total of 215 left him nine shots behind the winner, Portugal’s Vitor Lopes, and five behind second placed Rhys Nevin-Wharton, but Farrell declared himself fully satisfied with his display at the end of a successful season.
He said: “The week was all about managing the round as the weather wasn’t kind to us. I always made the smart decision and I just had to wait for the opportunities.
“I hit one of the shots of the week – a four-iron off a down slope from 200 yards which hit the back of the green and rolled to two feet. The only problem was that the Sky Sports cameraman had just finished filming us!
“I know I had the game to be in contention and I’m happy with third place, having won 12 events this summer.”
England international India Clyburn overcame a late attack of the nerves to win the girls’ event by two strokes from Lily Downs, with Elizabeth Prior back in third.
Clyburn and Lopes will now play in next year’s BMW Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth, an initiative first revealed by Paul McGinley at last year’s finals.
Previous winners of the event, which was hosted by Quinta do Lago for the second year running and celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, have included the likes of US Open champion Justin Rose and stars of the men’s and ladies’ tours in Europe, Oliver Fisher, Melissa Reid and Carly Booth.