Faldo Series Asia: Zheng claims Shanghai Championship in tight finish

Ouyang Zheng claimed the Faldo Series Shanghai Championship and a place in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final courtesy of a brilliant final round 71 at Shanghai Silport Golf Club.

Zheng Ouyang - winner of the Faldo Series Asia Shanghai Championship

In a remarkable comeback, Ouyang’s one-under-par round on day two was enough for a one shot victory over boys’ under-21 winner Hong Wei. Hong had led by four overnight with an opening 72 compared to Ouyang’s 76 but struggled to a 76 in round two while Ouyang stormed to victory with his 71, the lowest round of the tournament.

As a unique feature for the championship, UBS – a major partner of the Faldo Series Asia – invited Chinese Tour pro Wu A-Shun to join the competitors and UBS guests alike for an exclusive coaching clinic. Wu’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.

Ouyang and Hong can now look forward to spending time with six-time Major winner Nick Faldo when they travel to Mission Hills Golf Club for the Grand Final in March 2010. Also travelling to Mission Hills in China will be Shanghai’s three other gold medallists: Lin Yezhou (girls’ under-21), Billy Zhao (boys’ under-16) and Zhu Xiaoyu (girls’ under-16).

Supported by UBS, Mission Hills and The R&A, the Shanghai Championship was the third 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: 148 – Hong Wei (72-76); 151 – Liu Yifan (80-71); 156 – Nam Sung Min (82-74).

Boys’ under-16: 147 – Zheng Ouyang (76-71); 155 – Billy Zhao (76-79); 158 – Dou Zecheng (80-78).

Girls’ under-21: 177 – Lin Yezhou (85-92).

Girls’ under-16: 159 – Zhu Xiaoyu (82-77); 164 – Yu Xinyun (81-83), Lv Zheng (82-82).

July 7, 2009