Faldo Series Asia: Hsieh wins Taipei Championship with inspiration from HK Open Champion

18-year-old Hsieh Chi-Hsien was inspired to victory in the fourth Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship at Sunrise Golf and Country Club by some unique advice from UBS Hong Kong Open champion Lin Wen-Tang.

Hsieh Chi-hsien - winner of the fourth Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship

Playing on his home course, Hsieh followed up a brilliant opening 68 with a 75 in more windy conditions to finish at one-under-par on 143 and claim the trophy. Two shots behind was Hung Chun-Kang, 18, who matched Hsieh’s 68 on day one but struggled in the wind to a 77 on day two.

As a unique feature for the championship, UBS – a major partner of the Faldo Series Asia – invited Lin Wen-Tang to join with the Taiwanese competitors and UBS guests alike to conduct an exclusive coaching clinic and share some of his experiences as a professional golfer on Tour.

Lin, winner of the 2008 UBS Hong Kong Open, particularly impressed with the story of his amazing recovery shot on the first play-off hole in Hong Kong that allowed him to stay alive against former Faldo Series winner Rory McIlroy before going on to win on the next hole.

Lin’s visit came as part of UBS’s commitment to providing unique experiences for clients and to developing golf at the grassroots level through its partnership with the Faldo Series Asia. The Taiwanese Asian Tour star made a big impression on the competitors, including a delighted Hsieh who commented: “I felt extremely nervous going into the final round but I remembered Lin’s advice. He told us we will get more chances to win if we choose not to give up. That really helped settled me and this is a wonderful result.”

Hsieh and boys’ under-18 winner Hung can now look forward to drawing inspiration from another golfing legend – six-time Major winner Nick Faldo – when they travel to China’s Mission Hills Golf Club for the fourth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in March 2010. Joining them will be Wen Chih-Hao (boys’ under-16 winner), Yao Hsuan-Yu (girls’ under-21) and Liu Yi-Chen (girls’ under-16). For Hsieh, Hung and Liu it will be their second time at the Grand Final, but there will be no return for defending Faldo Series Asia girls’ champion Hsieh Yu-Ling who had to withdraw through injury.

Supported by UBS, Mission Hills and The R&A, the Chinese Taipei Championship was the first of 15 Faldo Series Asia tournaments in 12 different countries during 2009/2010, including four in mainland China plus one in each of Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam.

With over 1,000 competitors taking part and many more being introduced to the game, the climax of the season will be the fourth Grand Final in March 2010, an R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event. As well as spending time with Faldo, over 60 finalists from across the region will compete for five invites to the Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil plus the opportunity to play in a flagship Asian Tour or Ladies European Tour event for the overall boy and girl champion.

Hoping to win a hat-trick of Faldo Series Asia titles this season will be Rashid Khan of India. In March 2009 at Mission Hills, the 18-year-old from Delhi became the first player to successfully defend his Faldo Series Asia crown, replicating European Tour stars Nick Dougherty and Oliver Fisher, both of whom have been back-to-back winners of the Faldo Series in Europe since its launch in 1996.

LEADING FINAL SCORES:

Boys’ under-21: 143 – Hsieh Chi-hsien 68-75.

Boys’ under-18: 145 – Hung Chun-kang 68-77; 151 – Huang Tao 72-79.

Boys’ under-16: 152 – Wen Chih-hao 77-75; 156 – Liu Wei-hou 73-83; Lee Chieh-po 79-77.

Girls’ under-21: 150 – Yao Hsuan-yu 76-74.

Girls’ under-16: 152 – Liu Yi-chen 75-77; 162 – Chiu Chieh-lin 78-84.

June 24, 2009