The French team, Tao Pemerika and Kristella Sikk from Estonia, were tremendously inspired at the right moment, in an incredibly precise final stretch by all of them, and won the titles at stake.

The Spanish team took advantage of this edition of the Under 16 European Championship to further enhance its status as the most outstanding country in this tournament, which involves the best of European golf academies.

Not surprisingly, the Spanish increased their sporting significance by building a record that, in the collective sphere, with what was achieved in 2026, reflects eight gold medals, twelve silver and four bronze, more than anyone else, by far, in the history of this competition.

As if that weren't enough, in the individual category, the list of Spanish victories is also overwhelming: fifteen gold, twelve silver and nine bronze in the individual section.

The brilliant Spanish haul, however, evoked a slightly bittersweet feeling on a final day where none of its members managed to break par. These difficulties in beating the renowned Valencian course, at the most inopportune moment, contrasted sharply with the excellent performances accumulated over two days, which had put Spain on a clear path to the top of the podium.

However, it was others who took center stage in the final 18 holes. Frenchman Tao Pemerika, for example, dazzled everyone present with a final round of 65 strokes, a devastating 7 under par that overcame the resistance of Spaniards Jorge de la Riva and Martín Cervera, who were joint leaders at the start of the final round.

The Galician, applying a patience and orthodoxy in his actions typical of more mature players, maintained a very regular line that allowed him, with a final score of 73 strokes and 6 strokes behind the unreachable Pemerika, to win a well-deserved silver medal in a tough fight with his teammate Martín Cervera.

The Andalusian, also very consistent in the last round, could have reached the podium were it not for an untimely visit to one of the bunkers on the 18th hole. The ball, very poorly positioned, resisted coming out with the precise accuracy, contributing to an untimely double bogey that made him drop to fourth position.

One point higher, to win the bronze medal among the girls, was Rut Díaz's final score, who knew how to transform hard work and patience into success, a strenuous strategy executed with maximum intensity on the final day. Fourth in the standings after the first round and third after the second, the Madrid player performed a meticulous exercise in endurance to reach the lead halfway through the round.

The turning point, however, was soon to come. Similar to what happened in the men's competition, in the women's it was Estonian Kristella Sikk who blew the tournament to her head with five birdies in six holes, from 10 to 15, which proved to be the decisive factor, leaving her 4 and 5 strokes ahead of Czech Anna Gejdosova and Spaniard Rut Díaz.

Chanya Huaysan, the other member of the Spanish team that won the silver medal in the team competition, finished in 14th place individually.

“I’m very happy to have contributed to Spain winning the silver medal. I had a great tournament and I’m leaving with a very positive feeling, because the hard work and strategy paid off,” said an elated Javier de la Riva. “I fought until the very end, but I had some bad luck; my shot was impossible to save in the last bunker. But I’m very happy to have fought for this team,” declared a proud Martín Rivera.

“I’m also happy with the silver medal for Spain. I would have liked to contribute more, but just being here has been worth it,” said Chanya Huaysan. “What mattered most was the team; I was feeling overwhelmed by it in the last part of the race, but I’m also happy with my bronze medal,” said Rut Díaz, running alongside Chanya to meet their teammates, with a sentiment expressed in unison: “We did it for Spain.”.