By Rahul Banerji
Mumbai boy Keshav Mishra won the Under-21 section of the 13th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at the Laguna Lăng Cô course in Hue, Vietnam, last week, well ahead of second placed Yuta Kamiya of Japan.
Overall honours though belonged to rising Chinese Taipei teenageer Chang Hsin-chiao who overcame nerves and an accomplished male opponent on a nail-biting final day at Hue.
Playing in the Under-16 girls section, Chang sank a four-foot birdie putt at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to claim victory and also deny compatriot Chen Ting-yu a historic double, as the latter also topped the boys Under-18 event.
“I was so nervous,” admitted the 16-year-old who was doused in water and had a bucket of ice poured over her by members of the Chinese Taipei contingent on the 18th green, the Faldo Series reported on its website.
Two in a row
It was the second successive triumph for a female in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, following the success of Japan’s Suzuka Yamaguchi in 2018. Given that it was achieved after an head-to-head duel with one of the region’s leading male amateurs made Chang’s triumph all the more remarkable
Tournament host Sir Nick Faldo, who watched events and later presented Chang with the trophy, said: “What an exciting finish and what an outstanding performance from Hsin-chiao.
“There can’t be many amateur sports where you have a boy and girl facing off like that on equal terms. I think it’s fantastic that golf is able to do that.”
Catching up
Chang, who is based in Korea, began the day two shots behind pace-setter Chen in third place. In tough conditions, she dropped three birdies against two bogeys for a closing one-under-par 70.
The only player to break par all three days in the 72-strong field which included representatives from 19 nations and winners from the 22nd Faldo Series Europe Grand Final and the second Faldo Series United States Grand Final, Chang posted a 54-hole total of 5-under 208.
That score was matched by left-handed Chen, who was bidding to become the first male from his country to claim overall honours in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and also write his name into the record books as the first player to hold the Faldo Series Europe and Asia Grand Final titles simultaneously.
Unlike Chang, Chen struggled for consistency off the tee, numerous wayward drives contributing to six bogeys in his one-over 72.
Faldo, who staged a number of clinics for participants and local school children during the week, added: “This week we brought together more than 70 talented young golfers from around the world.
Sir Nick impressed
“I was impressed with the standard of play and I’m excited about the future as we continue our efforts to grow the game of golf globally through the Faldo Series.
“The course this week was in fabulous condition, testament to the efforts of Adam Calver (Laguna Lăng Cô’s Director of Golf) and his team… We look forward to gathering here again next year for the 14th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.”
The 2018-19 Faldo Series Asia season was supported by the R&A and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation. The International Junior Golf Academy is a partner of the Faldo Series.
As well as two events in China and Thailand, events were staged in Australia, Bangladesh, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam over the past 12 months.
Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006.
Leading final round scores
Boys’ Under-21: 211 – Keshav Mishra (India) 69-68-74; 217 – Yuta Kamiya (Japan) 70-75-72; 218 – Bryce Pickin (Australia) 78-74-66; 220 – Paul Murphy (Ireland) 75-70-75.
Boys’ Under-18: 208 – Chen Ting-yu (Chinese Taipei) 65-71-72; 213 – Petr Hruby (Czech Republic) 71-73-69; 214 – Kotaro Murata (Japan) 70-72-72; Mako Shapiyate (Chinese Taipei) 74-68-72.
Boys’ Under-16: 215 – Genki Otani (Japan) 79-70-66; 218 – Willy Chen (Chinese Taipei) 77-70-71; Weerawish Narkprachar (Thailand) 74-71-73; 219 – Wang Ngai Shen (China) 80-69-70
Girls’ Under-21: 211 – Chen Ling-jie (Chinese Taipei) 71-69-71; 212 – Emily Brennan (England) 74-69-69; 215 – Anne Yu (China) 72-73-70; Chou Yi-ting (Chinese Taipei) 71-74-70.
Girls’ Under-16: 208 – Chang Hsin-chiao (Chinese Taipei) 68-70-70; 210 – Kan Bunabodee (Thailand) 71-69-70; 215 – Yoko Tai (Singapore) 69-71-75.
Also read: Pranavi Urs defends title at Faldo Series India
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