The competitors in the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship were stunned on Wednesday night when the man himself made an unannounced ¬appearance at Quinta do Lago in Portugal before imparting his invaluable, world-class advice.

Rose will be back at the Algarve resort today/Thursday/Nov 14 to watch first-round leader Ben Schmidt, the 17-year-old from Rotherham, who shot an opening 68 to lie three ahead of nearest challenger Jacob Kelso after the first round of the 54-hole event.

On a day when the elements swung from drizzle to blazing sunshine, Schmidt, the world amateur number eight who has won the Brabazon Trophy and Carris Trophy this year, looked in complete control on Quinta do Lago’s North Course.

On the 10th, he drove his ball behind a tree before ¬ambling up and saying: “Perfect, eh?” From 116 yards – two yards to the tree – he conjured a lob wedge to 12 feet and holed for a three.

“You have to putt well here and I putted really well,” Schmidt said. “Being in the lead is something to -embrace, although I don’t really think about it too much.

Kent’s Kelso rolled his eyes when told after his fine 71 that Schmidt had “posted a good one”. “When does he ever post a bad one?” he said with a laugh.

Also in the final three-ball will be Hugh Adams, who is in a tie for third on level par alongside Devon’s Craig Passmore. It was a notable effort, considering that the Worcestershire player is the youngest in the boys’ field at 14.

In the girls’ event, Jess Baker had plenty to celebrate. The 17-year-old from Newcastle has signed up to join the University of Central Florida next year and posted a one-over-par 73 to take a two-shot lead over a group in second, comprising Mimi Rhodes, Rafiah Banday and Carmen Griffiths.

After an afternoon on the range and in the pool at this Algarve resort, the juniors ventured out for what they thought was a casual evening eating pizza. However, without any fanfare, Rose suddenly appeared and gasps filled the air. The world No 8, who is generously sponsoring this tournament for the first time, spoke of his excitement for today’s action.

“It was a brilliant day for me anyway,” Baker said. “But it’s just got even better.”

The Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship, which is supported by the R&A, European Tour Foundation and England Golf, is open to any juniors aged under-18 at midnight on January 1, 2019, with the finals set to be televised by Sky Sports later this year.

Located just 15 minutes away from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is renowned among Europe’s elite golf, sports and family destinations and, with a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities, is the perfect choice for a sporting break.

As well as three 18-hole championship golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at the state-of-the-art performance centre The Campus, a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit.

Complementing Quinta do Lago’s golf facilities is a choice of 13 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious world cuisines – including the acclaimed Bovino Steakhouse and recently-opened Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant – with accommodation on offer at the resort’s recently-acquired boutique The Magnolia Hotel.

For more details on the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship and for the 2019 final latest scores, go to www.telegraph.co.uk/juniorgolf
www.quintadolago.com

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
BOYS
Ben Schmidt: 68
Jacob Kelso: 71
Hugh Adams: 72
Craig Passmore: 72
Cameron Adam: 73
Max Hopkins: 75
Rhys Wallace: 76
Aaron Marshall: 76
Miles Gray: 77
Oscar Fuente: 79
Henry Hayward: 79
Calvin Holmes: 83

GIRLS
Jess Baker: 73
Mimi Rhodes: 75
Rafiah Banday: 75
Carmen Griffiths: 75
Evanna Hynd: 76
Darcey Harry: 80
Rosie Belsham: 81
Lily Hirst: 84
Patience Rhodes: 84
Roisin Scanlon: 84
Chloe Haesler: 89
Grace Rigby-Walden: 92

ENDS

About Quinta do Lago
Since its inception in 1972, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of international golf, hosting eight Portuguese Opens as well as numerous other international tournaments. Home to three world-class golf courses, the resort also boasts a wealth of cutting-edge practice facilities.

• Quinta do Lago North Course – Opening in October 2014, the totally revamped North Course has been redeveloped by renowned American golf architect Beau Well in close collaboration with 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and is set to become one of the new stars of European golf. The new layout has been built to the highest specifications with a €9.6m investment programme and has been redeveloped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.
• Quinta do Lago South Course – A favourite among European Tour professionals, the South Course calls for accurate drives and precise shots, but rewards players for their efforts with the stunning backdrop of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Regularly included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’, the par-72 layout has received widespread praise for its strategically-placed hazards and varying difficulty across the 18 holes. Having hosted the Portuguese Open on no fewer than eight occasions, the South Course is regarded as one of Portugal’s premier golfing venues.
• Laranjal – Designed in the grounds of an orange grove, the par-72 course was named as Portugal’s Best Golf Course 2011 at the Portuguese Travel Awards, and poses serious tests for players of all abilities. Opened in 2008, Laranjal offers a pure golfing experience right next to the Quinta do Lago estate and features fairways sown with Bermuda grass, providing a challenging playing environment in a picture-perfect setting.
• Paul McGinley Academy – Quinta do Lago is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in the world, founded in October 2011 by Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain. With a strong involvement from McGinley himself, who is a regular visitor to the resort, the academy aims to cultivate and improve golfers’ play by providing them with the tools and techniques used on the professional Tours. The academy focuses especially on younger players, working in collaboration with local schools and is the perfect way to follow in the footsteps of the pros.
• TaylorMade Performance Center – Quinta do Lago’s TaylorMade Performance Centre is the only facility of its kind in Portugal and is located on the resort’s expansive driving range. Opened in May 2013, the centre is operated by trained TaylorMade technicians, offering golfers a custom-fitting experience testing hundreds of club and iron options, ensuring the best combination for every player’s swing. It also has a fully-equipped Tour standard workshop and utilises FlightScope X2 radar technology to measure the entire flight of the ball from impact to landing whilst displaying its 3D trajectory in real time.
  Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.

For more information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, call + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com