The 15th edition at Amendoeira Golf Resort brings together 72 young golfers from 14 countries
— July 29
The 15th World Kids Golf by Amendoeira Golf Resort tees off today, welcoming a record field of 72 young golfers from 14 countries to Silves for one of Portugal’s most prestigious junior tournaments.
Played on the resort’s O’Connor Jnr. Course, the three-day competition runs until July 31 and remains Portugal’s longest-running international junior golf tournament recognised by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Sanctioned by the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG) and recognised by The R&A, it attracts some of the sport’s most promising young talents from Portugal and abroad.
Among this year’s competitors are three newly crowned Portuguese national champions: Sabrina Crisóstomo (Under-12), Ricardo Castro Ferreira (Under-12) and Nuno Palmares (Under-14). Castro Ferreira, who has already claimed three World Kids Golf titles in younger age groups, will be chasing a fourth victory and could become the first player to win three consecutive gross titles at the tournament.
The field also includes several former World Kids Golf champions returning to the Algarve, including João Crasi Alves, Matteo Balzer, Ziyang Guo, Carlota Balzer, Miguel Silva, Rodrigo Sousa Correia, Catarina Sousa Conceição and England’s Brooks Barker.
Players will compete across multiple age categories, with the oldest groups contesting valuable WAGR ranking points. This year’s edition features golfers representing Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Ireland, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Sweden, Brazil and the United States of America, reflecting the tournament’s growing international appeal.
The tournament aims to give young golfers the experience of competing at a professional event, from its organisation to its prize offering. “Last year, the winner took home prizes that, combined, may have been worth around €5,000. This year we probably won’t reach that number, but there are still many excellent prizes,” said tournament director Nelson Cavalheiro, former president of the PGA of Portugal and former Portuguese senior champion.