The 2023 Spanish Junior, Under-12, and Under-10 Championships have definitely heated up at the Real Novo Sancti Petri and El Campano courses in Cádiz. Nine rounds under par have shaken up the different categories, resulting in three changes of leader and a surge in excitement. This Thursday will bring the highlight of this big week for junior golf, when we will find out who the six new Spanish champions will be.

Video summary and statements from the first day
Video summary and statements from the second day

CHILDREN'S CATEGORY: Amazing laps to carve out a spectacular day in Novo Sancti Petri

The Real Novo Sancti Petri golf course was on full display from early morning, thanks to players like Liz Hao and Cristina García, as well as two others who didn't have their best day on Tuesday but bounced back spectacularly on Wednesday. We're talking about Adriana García Terol and Blanca Gómez-Balboa, who both carded rounds of 69 (-3) to jump into fifth place.

“I knew that at any moment everything would fall into place and I’d have a really good round,” said the Barcelona native. And so it was. With those five birdies each, Adriana and Blanca are now at +2 overall, four strokes behind the leader, Madrid’s Liz Hao (-2), whose greatest strength has been minimizing errors. In the final round, she will face her talented friends Cristina García and Ángela Revuelta again, both at -1 overall.

In the afternoon, with the big games underway, the intensity not only didn't wane, but actually increased. Samuel Love (-5 overall), a perfect blend of Irish, Chinese, and Spanish talent, started with an outstanding round of 69 (-3) featuring seven birdies. We repeat, seven birdies! And yet, this result doesn't allow him to be complacent in the slightest, as he's only two strokes behind Juan Miró (-3).

The Valencian golfer also shot under par again (70, -2), carded a good number of birdies – four – and minimized his bogeys to just two. Samuel and Juan are set for a great battle this Thursday, which will also include the Dutchman Youp Orsel, who, as we recall, was the best in the under-12 category last year.

Another highlight of the day: the first eagle of the tournament, scored by Jacobo Villarroya, a junior golfer from Madrid. It came on the 12th hole, and no one could describe it better than he could: “With my drive, I left it close to the green, about 35 meters from the flag. I hit it, and on the second bounce, it went in like a shot.‘.

YOUNGSTERS: Jorge de la Riva and Sofía Gamilla hold the lead

Galician Jorge de la Riva (+2) has solidified his lead in the men's competition thanks to an explosive finish to the round: four birdies in the last six holes. These birdies gave him a score of even par, making him the favorite heading into Thursday's final round. Two Andalusians, Martín Cervera (+5) and Oliver de Wint (+6), are threatening his lead from a safe distance.

Martín carded the best round of the day, the first under par in this tournament, with a 71 (-1). His success on the back nine—three birdies in the last four holes—proved decisive.

One of the players who remains in the lead is Sofía Gamilla (+7 overall), who has relied on the cushion she so skillfully built on the first day to withstand the pressure from Madrid native Alejandra Hernández (+11). The Andalusian didn't have her best day (78), but she fought hard and improved her round slightly with two good birdies.

For her part, Alejandra recorded the best round of the tournament, a 73 in which four birdies shone practically consecutively between holes 3 and 7. Another Madrid native, Paula Puerta (+14), also wants to put Sofia in trouble on the final day, although she knows that to do so she will have to play another remarkable round.

BENJAMIN: New leaders among the youngest

A day of changing the leader among the youngest players, who competed at the Campano Golf Club amidst the spontaneity, laughter, tears, joy, and other emotions typical of this tournament's youngest age group. The day began with much-anticipated and celebrated news: Cornelia Bermudo's birthday. She shared a delicious cake with her teammates and, as a bonus, gave herself the lead.

Cornelia (+7 overall) snagged a valuable birdie on the fourth hole and finished the day two strokes better than on the first day. But she shouldn't get too comfortable, because close behind are Madrid native Daniela Lozano (+8) and fellow Andalusian Fabiola Merello (+9), who, along with Cornelia herself, carded the best round of the day at 39.

There's a new leader in the men's competition too. His name is Máximo Fuertes (+7 overall), he comes from Valencia, and, interestingly enough, he's in Cádiz accompanied by two brothers, Miguel and Martín, who are playing in the Under-12 and Under-14 categories. Today he carded a 38, the best round among the youngest players, and has built a three-stroke lead over Oliver de Wint and Enzo Jiménez, both at +10, who haven't yet had their say. This category promises to be exciting on Thursday.

CLASSIFICATIONS 2nd day

Boys

1.- Samuel Love 139 (70+69)

2.- Juan Miró 141 (71+70)

3.- Youp Orsel 144 (73+71)

Full results

Girls' Junior

1.- Liz Siyu Hao 142 (71+71)

2.- Cristina García 143 (72+71)

3.- Ángela Revuelta 143 (71+72)

Full results

Boys' Under-12

1.- Jorge de la Riva 146 (74+72)

2.- Martín Cervera 49 (78+71)

3.- Oliver de Wint 150 (74+76)

Full results

Girls' Under-12

1.- Sofia Gamilla 151 (73+78)

2.- Alejandra Hernández 155 (82+73)

3.- Paula Puerta 158 (81+77)

Full results

Benjamin Male

1.- Máximo Fuertes 79, +7 (41+38)

2.- Jaime de Wint 82, +10 (40+42)

+.- Enzo Jiménez 82, +10 (38+44)

Full results

Benjamin Female

1. Cornelia Bermudo 79, +7 (40+39)

2.- Daniela Lozano 80, +8 (40+40)

3.- Fabiola Merello 81, +9 (42+39)

Full results

Check out the full results, tee times, photo gallery, tournament videos and other additional information below in the Related Links section.