Dates Announced For fifth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final

Sir Nick Faldo is looking forward to celebrating the fifth edition of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final when the R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event returns to the Faldo Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China on March 2-4, 2011.

“Five years is a milestone worth celebrating, especially when you consider that the number of Faldo Series Asia tournaments and competitors has almost tripled in that time,” commented Faldo. “And just as important to me is the number of younger children that have been exposed to the game through grass-roots activities at our tournaments during that period.”

The six-time Major Champion continued: “I thank all our sponsors, venues and host organisations, including our major partners Mission Hills, The R&A and ISPS, whose support and vision makes the Faldo Series possible and allows us to continue providing opportunities to young people through golf.”

Tenniel Chu, Executive Director of Mission Hills added: “As the home of the Faldo Series Asia since the start, Mission Hills is honoured to be playing a role in the development of tomorrow’s champions and we are particularly looking forward to the fifth Grand Final in March. Sir Nick should be proud of his efforts, especially with the Grand Final now considered a Major in youth golf and an impressive list of former winners that includes Yani Tseng, Rashid Khan and reigning champion Masamichi Ito.”

After a record season that has seen more than 1,000 talented young golfers compete in 16 Faldo Series Asia tournaments across 12 different countries, the top 80 boy and girl qualifiers, all aged from 12 to 21, will join Faldo at Mission Hills where they will compete over three rounds on the Faldo Course for the title of Faldo Series Asia champion.

Defending his title will be 15 year-old Ito from Japan who, following his play-off victory at Mission Hills last March, became the first player to claim the Faldo Series ‘double’ by also winning the 2010 Faldo Series Europe Grand Final played over the Faldo Course at the Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland in September.

Further to the success of the Faldo Series Europe, launched in 1996, the Faldo Series Asia was established in 2006. Underwritten by Faldo himself, it is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A, together with official golf wear partner UFL and official equipment supplier TaylorMade. The Grand Final is endorsed by the Asian Tour, the Asia Pacific Golf Federation (APGC) and the Guangdong Golf Association.

For more information on the Faldo Series visit www.nickfaldo.com or follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries.