Unique pro insights at Faldo Series Hong Kong

The Faldo Series Asia (FSA) is again teaming up with major partner UBS and the Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) to give competitors in this year’s Hong Kong championship a first-hand experience of professional golf and, for some, the unique chance to qualify for the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The second FSA Hong Kong championship, extended to 36 holes for 2007, will take place next week on October 8 and 9 at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. Run in conjunction with the official qualifier for the UBS Hong Kong Open (Fanling, November 15-18), the FSA competitors – boys aged 12 to 21 – will play in the same field as professionals and senior amateurs alike. Furthermore, those FSA competitors with a handicap of three or less can actually claim one of four amateur spots on offer at the UBS Hong Kong Open, a feat that was sensationally achieved in 2006 by FSA winner Jimmy Ko, 19, who shot a level-par round of 71.

In addition, four boys from the FSA Hong Kong championship will qualify for a place in the prestigious FSA grand final, to be hosted by six-time Major winner Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China on December 12-14. A place in the FSA grand final will also be offered to the leading two girls, aged 20 or under, after the first two rounds of the 2007 Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur championship.

Commented Faldo: “The Faldo Series Asia aims to develop tomorrow’s champions by providing competitors with a combination of experience and education. The fact that the players in Hong Kong will be competing alongside professionals and senior amateurs will be an invaluable learning experience in itself; let alone if they earn a place in the UBS Hong Kong Open. Thanks to UBS and the HKGA for making this happen and I look forward to meeting the winners at the FSA grand final in December.”

Jimmy Ko will defend his FSA title following a six month stint in the US where he has been working hard to improve his game. He has also been in Taiwan this week representing Hong Kong at the 23rd Asia Pacific Amateur Teams Championship for the Nomura Cup and he will be hoping the tough competition will help him to victory at the FSA Hong Kong Championship. Ko’s Nomura Cup team-mate Martin Liu will also be pushing hard for victory, as will past Clearwater Bay Golf Club champion Adrian Leung who often performs best under pressure situations.

Supported by Mission Hills, The R&A and UBS, the Hong Kong championship will be the fifth of 11 FSA events in 2007 in nine different countries, including three in China plus one in each of Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and UAE.

Also backed by Korn/Ferry International and sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, over 60 competitors from across Asia will qualify for the 2007 FSA grand final on the Faldo course at Mission Hills. Not only will they have the opportunity to learn from Faldo; they will also be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the 2006 champion, 18-year-old Nakarin Ratanakul of Thailand, whose victory earned him a game with Faldo, a place in the Faldo Series grand final in Europe and, courtesy of the Asian Tour, a start in the Volvo Masters of Asia and a scholarship to stage one of Asian Tour qualifying school.

Anyone wishing to attend the FSA Hong Kong championship – as a player or spectator – should contact the Hong Kong Golf Association via the website at www.hkga.com

October 5, 2007

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