Charlie Rusbridge sets his sights on a historic hat-trick

Telegraph

09-04-2025

When Charlie Rusbridge won the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship in December, the Essex talent checked the names on the boys' trophy and noticed that no player had won the event three times in a row.
Rusbridge, who prevailed at the stunning Quinta do Lago South Course by an impressive eight shots, will aim to defend his title later this year when it returns to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the boys' event.
'There have been back-to-toback winners, but no one has won it three times in a row, so if I can be the first to do it that would be pretty cool,' he says.
Rusbridge shot a superb 12 under par score as he recorded three rounds in the 60s, watched in the Algarve on the final day by his father Scott, a PGA teaching pro.
'It was really good fun and one of the best organised events I have ever played in,' says Rusbridge, who also won the English Amateur Under-18 title last summer.
'The Am-Am was great too. the whole event ran really smoothly. Dad's been with me pretty much every tournament, and when he saw I was doing nicely he came out,' he adds.
Rusbridge, who turned 17 last month, admits to still being on a high after his Telegraph victory and revealed that Rose handed out some sage words of advice, which have already proved valuable in 2025.
'Justin said to keep working hard and stay patient through the tough times. It was really good advice: to just trust yourself and to know that you have it.
'I haven't started this season off as fast as I wanted, but to know I could do it in December has been a real confidence boost, and just to stay patient and it will come again,' he says.
The Colne Valley golfer has set himself a 'six-year project' after verbally committing to a Florida State University scholarship in 2026. 'I'll turn pro in 2030 once I graduate, so I have five or so years to get ready to go on tour,' he says.
Grace Crawford, who won the girls' event at Quinta do Lago by just two strokes, is one step ahead of Rusbridge and starts her US collegiate golf this year. This means that she can't defend her girls' title in the year the girls' event marks its 35th anniversary this winter.
'To cap off my junior career in that style to win was fantastic,' she says.
The Scot is now based in the Bahamas at the Albany Golf Academy, and her coach Jon Hearn was also coached by Justin Rose himself.
'There were connections and Justin has such a cool legacy, so it was pretty special,' she says. 'I have had some good wins in the past, but this will be remembered.'
Crawford signed off her junior golf career in style by hitting a career-first all greens in regulation en route to victory, and she also relished having the chance to play in front of the Sky Sports cameras and, of course, enjoy the downtime Quinta do Lago.
She says: 'It was such a good week from start to finish. It was a great atmosphere and we were having fun off the course which made it enjoyable. A lot of memories were made.
'The funniest thing was that I saw Justin on the ninth tee on the last round.
'He was messaging my coach during the round, and he then took a video of me talking to Jon on the phone after I won. His embrace at the end was awesome – to have Justin Rose congratulating you on winning his tournament is pretty special, and I will remember [it] for a long time.'
Crawford, who starts at University of Alabama this summer, will play the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open for the first time since 2022, when she became the first home player to lift the title in 20 years.
'I'm excited to be taking the step into full-time amateur golf,' she adds. 'It may actually be less hectic than junior golf!'