The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews have acquired administrative control of the Junior Open Championship from Mrs Sonia Copeland. Mrs Copeland will continue to have an input into the running of the Championship.

The Junior Open has been held on three previous occasions at the same time as the Open Championship. National Golf Federations and Unions are currently invited to send an individual competitor, boy or girl, under the age of 16. The young golfers compete for The Junior Open Championships Quaich and are guests at The Open venue. Previous competitors include Spain's Sergio Garcia.

Hugh Campbell, Chairman of the R&A Championship Committee, has described drawing the Championship under the R&A's patronage as an opportunity to develop it "into an even greater event for our worldwide family of golfing nations, sitting well alongside our other successful Junior championships."

Indeed, three different categories of competition with varying handicap limits are designed to encourage entrants from all over the world and to involve participants from countries where golf development is in its infancy. At Formby last year, a total of 55 countries participated creating a world record for the largest number of nations represented in any single golf championship.

The fourth Junior Open will be e held at Crail in Fife over the Balcomie and Craighead Links on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th July 2000 in conjunction with the Millennium Open at St. Andrews. It is hoped that around 100 countries will be represented.

For further information contact David Hill on 01334 472112.