The 15-year-old, playing her first competitive event abroad, showed determination on lightning-quick greens in posting an opening 70 to lead the girls’ event – one shot ahead of Kingston-upon-Thames’ Annabell Fuller.


Meanwhile, Northamptonshire’s Ben Jones leads the boys’ field in the 54-hole strokeplay format after recording a gritty 69, the only sub-70 round in the 21-strong field.

Heath’s early nerves were cast aside with a 12ft birdie on the sixth and she maintained rock-like composure to lead by one shot over Fuller, a returning finalist and a fellow 15-year-old.


“I had a rough start, but I was confidently scrambling and knew I could hold putts," said Heath, who lives in Brighouse, aiming to become the first Yorkshire winner since Matthew Fitzpatrick's 2012 victory.


Jones, who won the Henry Cooper Junior Masters by 10 shots, raced to four under par on the front nine in the boys' event before a run of three straight bogeys dented an otherwise impressive round. He remained composed to finish with an impressive -3.


“The big win in the Henry Cooper gave me huge confidence,” said Jones.

Meanwhile, Bishop’s Stortford’s Max Hopkins, at 14 the youngest competitor in the field, lies well in contention in the 12-strong boy's 54-hole strokeplay format after a fearless round of 71.

It was a difficult day for the Telegraph Vitality defending champions as 2016 girls’ champ Hannah Screen from Berkhamsted lies four shots off the pace, while Waltham Cross’ Goddard shot a wayward 78, although he is capable of clawing that back after shooting a course record 66 last year.

Officially opened by McGinley in October 2014, the 6,156m North Course layout has quickly risen to become one of the new stars of European golf, and played a key role in Quinta do Lago be named as Portugal’s best golf resort in Golf World’s inaugural rankings of the Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe 2016/17.


Now in its 33rd year, the 54-hole stroke play Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship, which was hailed by 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley as one of junior golf’s Majors, is to take place on Quinta do Lago’s redesigned North Course. Officially opened by McGinley in October 2014, the 6,156m-layout, one of three championship courses at the resort, has quickly risen to become one of the new stars of European golf.


The North Course played a key role in Quinta do Lago being named Portugal’s best golf resort in Golf World’s inaugural rankings of the Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe 2016/17.

For more details about the 2017 Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship, call 0344 693 1885 or go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/sport/juniorgolf/