The Spanish Under-16 and Under-10 Pitch & Putt Championships, one of the premier short game events, are being held at the Deva Golf course in Gijón, Asturias, from August 8th to 10th, with record participation. The Under-10 Boys' and Girls' competitions take place on the 8th and 9th, while the Under-16, Under-14, and Under-12 Boys' and Girls' categories are played on the 9th and 10th.

In total, one hundred and ninety-six golfers are participating this week, distributed as follows: 35 in Male Cadet, 12 in Female Cadet, 25 in Male Junior, 23 in Female Junior, 33 in Male Under-12, 18 in Female Under-12, 39 in Male Under-10 and 16 in Female Under-10.

This thirteenth edition of the tournament, by far the largest ever, brings together golfers who, despite their young age, have already developed impressive sporting careers and are destined to make significant progress within Spanish golf. It takes place on a course that has hosted this event in previous years and is considered one of the leading Pitch & Putt courses in the country.

More equal power than ever before

As with other tournaments involving the youngest group in the Spanish golf academy, establishing benchmarks in this Spanish Under 16 and Benjamin Pitch & Putt Championship is a complicated exercise, although, considering the playing handicaps and recent past performances, it is possible to establish some mentions that, once on the course, they have to confirm with their play.

Among the cadets, the focus is on Pelayo Fernández (-0.9) from Asturias, winner in 2022, and on María Carlón (-0.9) from Burgos, a player with a proven track record in Pitch & Putt events; not surprisingly, she has been runner-up in Spain three times, twice in the Benjamin category (2017 and 2018) and once in the Alevín category (2019).

Among the children, Biel Cabanes from Barcelona (0.5) and Fátima Noguera from Alicante (0.6) lead their respective lists, while among the younger children, Sergio Vargas from Madrid (2.6) and Andrea Arnal from Castellón (8.2) start as the headliners.

Great excitement is expected in both Benjamin categories. Among the boys, the main candidate, on paper, to succeed Juan Antonio Macías, last year's winner, is Martín Gancedo (11.5) from Galicia; among the girls, the best news is that there will be a Spanish champion, something that didn't happen in 2023 due to the minimum number of competitors not being reached. Ana Iturmendi (15.8) from Barcelona, the current national champion, leads the list.

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