Bulgaria will have professional golfers in 10 years, the secretary of the Bulgarian Golf Association, Seth Underwood, said in an interview.

Underwood is fully committed to popularising golf in Bulgaria. A resident of Sofia for more than 13 years, he believes that achieving this dream is closer than ever.

Through to the youth educational programme already in place at several schools in Sofia, it is hoped that interest will be built among teenagers and their parents.

“Golf is not only for rich people - that is our main message. In order to convince as many Bulgarians as possible, we have started a special golf education programme at six schools in Sofia. We work with two professionals, Neil Turley from the UK and Pascal Simar from Belgium. It’s impossible to play golf during the winter because of the severe weather conditions, but thanks to the indoor golf academy we can offer golf lessons all year round.

“We are happy to say that last November, three Bulgarians took part in the world amateur golf championship in South Africa. The competition is held every two years and we were proud to be able to send a Bulgarian team there.”

Of his prediction that Bulgaria will have professional golfers in 10 years, Underwood says, “We need some time because there are no tradition of golf here. Fortunately, there are many television channels in Bulgaria that broadcast various golf tournaments, and this is helping us to popularise the sport.

* The full results of the tournament played at the Aphrodite Hills Golf Club tournament in Cyprus are as follows.

The team captained by Seth Underwood won the first round with a two-point lead. The second round was also won by Underwood’s team, putting them four points ahead, and the team won the third round as well. Despite the team led by association president Krassimir Guergov narrowing the lead in the final round, the secretary’s team emerged as the overall winner.