Asians shine at Faldo Series Grand Final

All three Asians competing in the 2007 Faldo Series grand final at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales this month put in strong performances, including Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao who finished runner-up in the boys’ under-15 category with a 54-hole total of 223.

Nick Faldo with Hung Chien-yao, runner-up in the Faldo Series boys' under-15 category

15-year-old Hung, the reigning Faldo Series Asia (FSA) boys’ under-16 champion, had accepted an invitation from Nick Faldo to play in the flagship event of the Faldo Series in Europe (October 9-11) and finished in a three-way tie for second, three shots behind England’s Chris Selfridge. Hung’s final round of 75 following two 74s earned him the runner-up trophy on a count-back.

Commented Hung: “The Faldo Series grand final was a big challenge for me as it was my first time playing in Europe. There are many differences, including the weather and the style of golf course, but I really enjoyed it and would like to thank Nick for the opportunity.”

Nick Faldo with Ainil Johani Bakar, runner-up in the girls’ under-18 category

Also invited to Celtic Manor by Faldo were Hung’s compatriot, 15-year-old Hsieh Yu-ling, reigning FSA girls’ champion, and Malaysia’s Ainil Johani Bakar, 18, who won the 2007 girls’ under-18 title at Mission Hills. The two girls also impressed at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue, with Bakar finishing runner-up in the girls’ under-18 category on 224, three behind winner Emma Goddard of Wales, and Hsieh finishing a further three shots back in third place.

The overall Faldo Series champion was 20-year-old England international, Ben Evans who finished on 204, six-under-par for the tournament, and became only the third player since European Tour stars Nick Dougherty and Oliver Fisher to win the Faldo Series in back-to-back years.

FALDO SERIES GRAND FINAL - FULL RESULTS 2007

Under 21 (PAR 70)

1 Ben Evans Rye 69 66 69 204
2 Ryan Evans Wellingborough 71 67 68 206
3 Rhys Black Sherwood Forest 72 67 68 207
4 Kristjan Thor Kjolur 72 70 72 214
5 Alex Kippen Enmore Park 74 71 72 217
6 Adam Wootton Oxford City 71 72 76 219
7 Richard Smith Hollinwell 78 73 71 222
8 David Hird Leasowe 77 74 72 223
9 Steven Webster Castle 76 71 77 224
10 Nick Pateman Porters Park 74 74 78 226
11 James Housby Penrith 76 77 77 230

Under 18 (PAR 70)

1 Jack Clarke Chelmsford 75 72 69 216
2 Max Brittan Saltford 70 73 73 216
3 Stuart Havelock Hankley Common 71 77 70 218
4 Neil Henderson The Glen 74 73 72 219
5 Michael Swan Stoke-by-Nayland 78 72 70 220
6 Jack Bingham Disley 79 72 72 223
7 Andrew Wallace Glenbervie 71 79 78 228
8 Arni Gestsson Reykjavik 80 83 MC 262
9 Joe Winfield Woburn 85 79 MC 263

Under 17 (PAR 70)

1 Darren Renwick Worthing 74 67 70 211
2 Rudy Hercik Gaudet-Luce 71 71 70 212
3 Stuart Ballingall De Vere Dunston Hall 69 71 74 214
4 Liam Brace Stoke by Nayland 74 70 74 218
5 James Wilson Formby 74 71 78 223
6 Fraser McKenna Balmore 79 72 76 227
7 Adam Dunton McDonald 82 73 75 230
8 Charlie Wilson Sene Valley 77 79 80 236
9 Hrafn Gudlaugsson Fljoatdalsherad 81 78 MC 258
10 Barry Anderson Woodlands 87 87 MC 273

Under 16 (PAR 70)

1 Jay Beisser Rochford Hundred 75 70 71 216
2 Ross McLister Cardiff 77 73 68 218
3 Ruaidhri McGee North West 80 71 73 224
4 Max Smith Newbury Racecourse 79 72 74 225
5 Scott Fitzgerald Southport & Ainsdale 79 75 73 227
6 Nick Macandrew Cullen 76 78 75 229
7 Danny Keddie Sudbrook Moor 75 80 76 231
8 Andri Mar Hella 75 74 84 233
9 Alastair Hall Bungay & Waveney Valley 78 81 MC 258
10 Steven Walther Limpachtal 90 75 MC 264

Under 15 (PAR 70)

1 Chris Selfridge Moyola Park 73 73 74 220
2= Greg Eason Kirby Muxloe 74 70 79 223
2= Chien-Yao Hung Chinese Taipei 74 74 75 223
2= Rhys Pugh Vale of Glamorgan 75 70 78 223
5 Gudmundur Agust Reykjavik 73 76 75 224
6 Ian Redford King James VI 80 74 72 226
7 Gareth Johnson Howley Hall 80 75 79 234
8 Adam Woodhead Newton Green 79 79 79 237
9 Jake Canning Thorney Park 80 79 MC 258
10 JJ Grey Sweetwoods Park 82 79 MC 260

Girls (PAR 72)

1 Emma Goddard Vale Royal Millenium 78 72 71 221
2 Ainil Johani Bakar Malaysia 77 74 73 224
3 Yu-Ling Hsieh Chinese Taipei 73 77 77 227
4 Victoria Bradshaw Bangor 82 75 72 229
5 Katherine O’Connor Tadmarton Heath 77 78 77 232
6 Gemma Hardie Forest Pines 78 74 82 234
7 Abbey Gittings Walmley 80 79 MC 159
8 Katie Mundy Dunwood Manor 83 81 MC 164
9 Rachel Drummond Beaconsfield 81 86 MC 167
10 Katie Barraclough East Bierley 88 80 MC 168
11 Olafia Kristinsdottir Reykavik 91 81 MC 172
12 Charlotte Austwick Pike Hills 94 81 MC 175

About the Faldo Series Asia

Nick Faldo launched the Faldo Series Asia (FSA) in January 2006 to bring opportunities to young people in Asia through golf and to help identify and nurture the region’s next generation of champions.

The FSA features an annual schedule of tournaments in different territories across the region. Over 60 players qualify for the FSA grand final, hosted by the six-time Major winner on the Faldo course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

Combining experience with education, FSA tournaments give talented young golfers, male and female aged 11 to 21, the chance to benefit from top-level competition under strict tournament conditions and receive expert advice from guest speakers on golf related topics. Simultaneously local children gain access to golf at the tournaments through a programme of grass-roots activities and the chance to watch the competitors in action.

Part of Faldo’s charity, The Faldo Trust for Tomorrow’s Champions (Asia) Limited, and underwritten by Faldo himself, the FSA is supported by major partners Mission Hills, The R&A and UBS and patron Korn/Ferry International. It is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC).

October 25, 2007

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