2026 SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR CHILDREN, UNDER 12 AND UNDER 10s – JUAN ANTONIO ANDREU MEMORIAL
Check live results, tee times, photo gallery and other information below in the Related Content section.
.Irene Elías, Sergio Vargas, Candela Visus, Jaime de Wint, Paula Casas, and Antonio Javier Payo are the first leaders of a tournament that, keeping its promise from 2025, is played without mobile phones. Just golf, camaraderie, and a desire to enjoy the game.
“Please remember that children participating in the 2026 Spanish Junior, Under-12, and Under-10 Championships will play the tournament with physical scorecards,” reads a sign at the entrance to the Real La Manga Club registration area. No cell phones, just golf, friends, nature, and a desire to have a good time—that's the idea. And it has been more than fulfilled on a first day that has brought us back to the golf we know and love.
The results? Good, very good, but they take a backseat when we have a competition ahead of us in Murcia with 423 boys and girls eager to take on the world. They've done so in small, impressive bites. And the best part is that we still have two days to go.
The day has seen Irene Elías, Sergio Vargas, Candela Visus, Jaime de Wint, Paula Casas, and Antonio Javier Payo emerge as the first leaders of the tournament. An unusual fact: there are no shared leaders, something uncommon in the Junior category. But this is just the beginning.
CHILDREN'S CATEGORY: Sergio Vargas and Irene Elías start off like a rocket
Sergio Vargas has already shown his mettle at Serena Golf. The Madrid native, with a birdie on the first hole, the first of his six, leads at -3 after a day that saw four other rounds under par: those of Telmo Bilbao (-3), Manuel Gallego (-2), Pedro Tineo (-1) – who was already the Spanish Junior Champion on this same course – and Miguel Rona (-1). Keep an eye on Telmo and Manuel, who have almost identical rounds with four birdies and hardly any bogeys.
That's at Serena Golf, because at Real La Manga Club, Irene Elías from Segovia is provisionally in the lead, having dared to dethrone the prodigy Sofía Gamilla, who has left the tournament with a trophy in her suitcase for the last two years. Irene putted in a fantastic round (six birdies, no small feat) that could have been even better, as she indulged in a couple of bogeys on the last three holes. What a way to putt! Sofía follows at even par with a solid and classic scorecard, like that of a pro, giving her a one-stroke advantage over her playing partner Chloe Huang Xu, Aitana Soler, and Andrea Arnal. Keep an eye on them.
JUVENILES: Jaime imitates Oliver and Candela… plays Candela
After two years of Oliver de Wint's triumphs, his brother Jaime has arrived, nearly matching his older brother's success. What do they eat in that family? No idea, but it would be interesting to know. Jaime finished the day in the lead with the only under-par round, a fantastic -1 with five birdies, and a one-stroke advantage over the always competitive Dmitrii Elchaninov. Another illustrious brother, Cayetano Ballesteros, is lurking in third place with +1.
Candela Visus is a name that's been heard with interest in the Junior category for some time now. The Valencian (+4) is the sole leader with a great game that earned her a couple of birdies on the tee. Inés Gómez-Balboa (+5) and Isabella Cabezas de Herrera (+6) have also made it onto the podium.
BENJAMINS: To start, a great pair and a champion's reaction
A par score for our youngest players is a fantastic result. Paula Casas from Castile and León achieved it with two birdies and two bogeys. She is followed in the standings by Aitana Puerta from Madrid with +4 and Blanca Iraola from the Basque Country with +6.
The men have also finished at par. Antonio Javier Payo from Madrid shot a +2, a remarkable feat: he carded a double bogey on the 8th and recovered with a fine birdie on the 9th. A great comeback! Another Madrid native, Orión Iniesta, along with Telmo El Khouly from the Basque Country, Santiago Viera from Andalusia, and Mario Valiente from Valencia, follow him on a leaderboard that has been as tight as it has been entertaining on the West Course at La Manga.
THINGS FROM THE CHILDREN'S CENTER
ANAR never fails
As every year, at the Children's event we were fortunate to have the invaluable presence of the ANAR Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides support to at-risk and vulnerable teenagers. Remember that at 900 20 20 10, a free, confidential, and 24-hour helpline, there is always a friendly voice ready to help.
Attention, dear parents
Being the parent of a young athlete isn't always easy, neither for the child nor for the parent. That's why the RFEG's Youth Technical Committee has made resources available to parents. six videos with useful tips so that everyone can find their right place during the competition.
Be careful what you dream about…
…which can become a reality. All the players participating in the tournament have left a post-it note with their wish on the so-called 'Wall of Dreams': ‘to be a professional golfer’, “to make many friends in the tournament”, “to win the tournament” and many memories for Venezuela among the most recurring messages from our champions.
FINAL RESULTS
Boys
1.- Sergio Vargas 69
2. Telmo Bilbao 70
3. Manuel Gallego 70
Girls' Junior
1.- Irene Elías 72
2.- Sofia Gamilla 73
3. Chloe Huang Xu 74
+.- Aitana Soler 74
+.- Andrea Arnal 74
Boys' Under-12
1. Jaime de Wint 70
2.- Dmitrii Elchaninov 71
3. Cayetano Ballesteros 72
Girls' Under-12
1.- Candela Visus 75
2.- Inés Gómez-Balboa 76
3.- Isabella Cabezas de Herrera 77
Benjamin Male
1. Antonio Javier Payo +2
2.- Orion Iniesta +3
Telmo El Khouly +3
+.- Santiago Viera +3
+.- Mario Valiente +3
Benjamin Female
1.- Paula Casas Par
2.- Aitana Puerta +4
3. Blanca Iraola +6
