Sean Keeling (IRL) and Rocio Tejedo (ESP) lead the race to qualify for the 2023 European Junior Ryder Cup Team.

12 spots for junior players (U18) are available in the European team that will take on the USA in Rome from 26 to 28 September ahead of the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup.

Three girls and three boys will be automatically selected for the team through the qualifying ranking, while six more players will be selected by captain, Stephen Gallacher.

The Portuguese International Amateur Championships, played at the end of January and early February, opened the qualifying race for both boys and girls. The Spanish International Amateur Championships, played last week, marked the second chance for players to score points for the ranking.

Rocio Tejedo (ESP) made the perfect start to the girls’ qualifying race claiming the Portuguese International title. The Spanish player continued her good form in the ‘Copa S.M. La Reina’, where she reached the semi-finals. The T3 finish was enough to keep her lead at the top of the ranking.

Nora Sundberg (SWE) was the player of the week in Spain. The Swedish junior defeated the reigning European Ladies’ Amateur Champion, Savannah de Bock (BEL), in the final at La Reserva Club Sotogrande to climb to second position in the rankings.

Cayetana Fernandez (ESP), who narrowly missed out on the Portuguese title in a playoff, is currently third in the ranking, while Savannah de Bock holds fourth.

In the Boys’ Ranking, 16-year-old Sean Keeling (IRL) maintained his lead. The Irish junior finished third in the Portuguese International Amateur Championship last month, and continued his good form at Infinitum Golf in Spain. The Qualifying Ranking leader reached the third round of matches in the Spanish Amateur Championship but would lose on the 19th hole to the eventual champion, Nicola Gerhardsen (SUI).

Peer Wernicke (GER) was the top junior performer at the event. The German national team player made it all the way to the semi-finals in Spain, but would also lose out to the eventual title winner. The performance lifted the German from 21st to 2nd in the Boys’ Qualifying Ranking.

Lev Grinberg (UKR) holds third position, and with it, the last automatic qualifying spot. The 15-year-old backed up a top-five finish in Portugal with a T17 finish in Spain.

The next qualifying events for boys and girls are the French International Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, which will take place on Easter weekend from 6 to 10 April.