12 year old Ava Gadsby Wins the Under 18 Mixed Royal Birkdale Junior Open Championships
Date: 2nd August 2024
A breathtaking performance from an up and coming golfer at the prestigious Royal Birkdale Mixed Junior Open championships.
The championship, a mixed under 18 championship balloted for all players under 6.6 handicap had over 80 players playing from all over the country competing for the competition.
The 154th Open Championship will be returning to the Lancashire golf coast in just two years time after the R&A announced that the 2026 renewal of the championship is to be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in 2026.
The iconic Southport links has hosted The Open on ten previous occasions, the last of which was in 2017 when Jordan Spieth came out on top following a final round duel with Matt Kuchar. The American joined a celebrated roll of Champion Golfers at Royal Birkdale, including Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O’Meara and Padraig Harrington.
Ava Gadsby said, “I am beyond thrilled and honoured to have won this competition for myself and my family. It’s been a course I’ve had my eye on for a while now as my Grandad said it’s one of the toughest courses in the country. And it has been chosen as the host venue for The Open in 2026. Royal Birkdale Golf Club has a rich history with The Open having hosted it ten times previously. If the world’s best golfers are coming to play this magnificent course and providing them with a true test of links golf. I just played it and scored 1 over par in front of my Southport family, what a day.” She smiles.