Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship

The Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship (ADJGC), in association with The Telegraph, is an international golf tournament for players under the age of 18 years, the finals of which will be held from November 22 to 24, 2011 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates. The current boys champion is Ben Taylor and Hayley Davis holds the 2010 girls title.

The tournament has its origins in the 1960s, when it was organised by The Daily Telegraph. In the early days it was an informally organised competition that took place during the school holidays. Today it attracts a considerable field of junior golfers from Great Britain and Ireland and offers boys and girls the opportunity to experience a major tournament and ultimately bid to become the Junior Golf Champion. In recent years, around 40,000 juniors have taken part in the qualifying round.

It is open to all permanent British and Irish residents under the age of 18 at the start of the year. A handicap of 28 and below for boys and 36 and below for girls is required. This year, a player from the Middle East will also take part in the finals.

The finals of the Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship, in association with The Telegraph, will feature 10 boys who qualify via the leaderboard, one boy who will receive a sponsor’s invite, the girls' defending champion Hayley Davis, seven girls who qualify via the leaderboard and one girl who will receive a sponsor’s invite . The winner of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club Junior Open, which took place the month before, will also complete the 21-strong field.

Before the finals begin, a challenge match will take place, in which 21 of the UAE and Middle East’s best young players will compete with the visitors.

Success in the tournament has acted as a springboard for some exceptional young golfers, with past winners including Justin Rose and Andrew Coltart, who have gone on to play at the highest level. Current boys and girls champions Stiggy Hodgson and Carly Booth have both represented Great Britain and Ireland in amateur tournaments.

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