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Spanish starlet: Otaegui’s success at Q-School made him the European Tour’s second youngest card holder

Youngest Spaniard on tour since Seve receives Ryder Cup captain’s support

Adrian Otaegui, represented by Jamie Cunningham and leading sports marketing agency Professional Sports Group, has won his European Tour card for the 2012 season.

The young Spaniard, 19, successfully tackled the European Tour Q-School at the first attempt and will become the second youngest 2012 card holder behind his Junior Ryder Cup partner and good friend Matteo Manassero.

Otaegui, 2010 British Boys champion, is the youngest Spaniard to hold a European Tour card since golfing legend Seve Ballesteros and ahead of Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

“I know Adrian well and have trained with him on a quite few occasions. He is already a very good golfer, if still young and learning,” noted Olazabal (speaking in Golf Europeen – December 2011).

“He is strong with his irons and has a fantastic short game. He is a really promising player, but still has to work hard, particularly to hit with more power off the tee, which in the modern game is vital.”

Fluent in Spanish, French and English, Otaegui is originally from the Basque region of Spain but recently moved with his family to France. His father Javier will continue to caddie for the youngster as he begins life on tour, with South Africa the likely destination for 2012 debut.

“I am looking forward to playing the European Tour in 2012. I have learnt a lot on the Challenge Tour this year since I turned professional. Tour School was great, but now the hard work begins in a couple of weeks.”

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.