Cahyo Adhitomo Maintains Boys' U21 Lead In Faldo Series Final

Mission Hills, 15 March 2012 - Kohei Kinoshita of Japan will take a three shot lead into the final round of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. The 17-year-old fired a brilliant 66 on the Faldo Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China before attending a clinic for competitors with the six-time Major Champion.

Kinoshita produced seven birdies and an eagle in his six-under-par round, which was five shots better than any of his challengers. 2010 winner Masamichi Ito was one of four players to shoot the next best score of 71 and trails his compatriot by three going into the final round.

Guan Tian Lang from China and Indonesia’s Cahyo Adhitomo also carded rounds of 71 to lie in third place on two under par, six shots back from the leader. 13-year-old Guan from Guangzhou also leads the charge for the inaugural Mission Hills Trophy, awarded to the top-finisher from mainland China.

In the girls’ division, Malaysia’s Nur Durriyah Damian, 17, leads by five shots going into the final round after adding a 74 to her first round 75. Mai Arai of Japan and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ssu Chia are her nearest challengers.

80 golfers from 17 countries have joined Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills in Shenzhen for the sixth Asia Grand Final. The tournament’s largest-ever field is competing over three rounds for the title of Faldo Series Asia Champion, awarded to the player with the lowest gross score, regardless of age or gender.

With competitors aged 13 to 21 divided into five age-categories – three for boys and two for girls – the category winners will each receive a trophy and an exemption into the 16th Europe Grand Final at Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland in September 2012. The Mission Hills Trophy winner will also receive an invitation to play in the 2012 Europe Grand Final if he or she is not already exempt.

The leading boy and girl overall at the World Amateur Golf Ranking event will be invited to play in a professional Tour event.

The Faldo Series Asia Grand Final is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A, official golf wear partner UFL and official suppliers TaylorMade, Tricor and TrackMan. It is endorsed by the Asian Tour, the Asia Pacific Golf Federation and the Guangdong Golf Association.

Established in 1996, 37 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 27 countries worldwide with more than 7,000 golfers taking part each year. Past winners include current world number ones Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

Leading round two scores: Boys’ Under-21: 142 – Cahyo Adhitomo (INA) 71-71; 146 – Angad Cheema (IND) 75-71, Gavin Samuels (ENG) 73-73. Boys’ Under-18: 145 – Sittipong Wiangchanok (THA) 73-72, Gavin Moynihan (IRE) 73-72; 148 – Wang Wei Lun (TPE) 75-73, Elki Kow (INA) 71-77. Boys’ Under-16: 136 – Kohei Kinoshita (JPN) 70-66; 139 – Masamichi Ito (JPN) 68-71; 142 – Guan Tian Lang (CHN) 71-71. Girls’ Under-21: 154 – Mai Arai (JPN) 75-79; 157 – Aretha Pan (MAL) 75-82, Vanaskrit Sillaparungson (THA) 81-76. Girls’ Under-16: 149 – Nur Durriyah Damian (MAL) 75-74; 154 – Cheng Ssu Chia (TPE) 77-77; 156 – Kitty Tam (HKG) 77-79, Wu Sha (CHN) 82-74.

For tee times, live scores and results during the sixth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, visit www.nickfaldo.com. You can also follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/faldoseries.