Faldo Series Asia: Rashid Khan is first back-to-back Faldo Series Asia champion

India’s Rashid Khan successfully defended his Faldo Series Asia title at Mission Hills Golf Club today after a nail-biting finish to the third Grand Final.

Rashid Khan receives his trophy from six-time Major champion Nick Faldo at Mission Hills

18-year-old Khan won with a birdie four on the 18th hole of the Faldo Course to finish on five-under-par, one ahead of Spain’s Adrian Jauregui who had chipped in for eagle on the same hole playing one group in front. Previous back-to-back Faldo Series winners include Nick Dougherty and Oliver Fisher in Europe; however Khan from Delhi becomes the first Faldo Series champion to successfully defend his title in Asia.

A delighted Khan commented: “I am so happy to win. I was nervous at the start, especially with Mr Faldo watching, however I soon settled and stuck to my game plan. Even towards the end when the scores were tight I felt confident that I could do it. I want to come back next year and win again!”

Six-time Major winner Nick Faldo said: “I was really impressed with Rashid today – he hit two great drives down 17 and 18 under a lot of pressure which set him up for the win. It’s been a great week here at Mission Hills with over 60 players from 13 different Asian countries taking part and Rashid is the deserved champion.”

Khan’s birdie finish gave him a final round 70 to finish on 211, earning him the boys’ under-18 title as well as the Faldo Series Asia trophy. Jauregui, 16, claimed the boys’ under-16 trophy on 212. The leading girl was Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Ling, 17, who finished on 222, four ahead of girls’ under-21 winner Hannah Barwood, 18, of England. Barwood’s compatriot 21-year-old Steven Brown, Faldo Series champion from the 2008 Grand Final in Brazil, took the boys’ under-21 title with a total of 221.

Supported by UBS, The R&A and Mission Hills China, 60 players from 13 different Asian countries competed in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, plus five winners from the 2008 Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil.

Hosted by Nick Faldo, the R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event was played under strict tournament conditions over three rounds of gross stroke-play on the Faldo Course at Mission Hills China. The field of competitors aged 13 to 21 also received expert advice off the course, including seminars with The R&A’s Dominic Wall and fitness expert Daniel Remon, plus support and advice from Faldo himself.

Endorsed by the Asian Tour, the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation and the Guangdong Golf Association, the five leading players from the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final will be invited by Faldo to play in the 2009 Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil. The Asian boy and girl champion will also be invited to play in a flagship professional event on the Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour respectively.

Children from the local community also attended Mission Hills to watch the competitors in action and receive free coaching from Faldo, part of the golfing legend’s drive to simultaneously create access to the sport at a grass-roots level.

LEADING FINAL SCORES:

Boys’ under-21: 221 – Steven Brown (England); 224 – Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari (Malaysia).

Girls’ under-21: 226 – Hannah Barwood (England); 241 – Ines Putri Tjiptadi (Indonesia).

Boys’ under-18: 211 – Rashid Khan (India); 223 – Nicholas Fung (Malaysia).

Boys’ under-16: 212 – Adrian Jauregui (Spain); 216 – S Chikkarangappa (India).

Girls’ under-16: 222 – Hsieh Yu-ling (Chinese Taipei); 226 – Thidapa Suwannapura (Thailand).

March 27, 2009