Thanks to a closing two-under-par 70 over Damai Indah Golf’s BSD Course near Jakarta, Ali overturned a one-stroke overnight deficit and edged out defending champion Tamardi.
It was a fine performance from Ali who posted a 54-hole aggregate of one-under-par 215 in the 18th leg of the record-breaking 2014-2015 Faldo Series Asia season.
That was one shot ahead of 15-year-old Tamardi who was a model of consistency throughout, signing for three rounds of even-par 72.
Although Tamardi was unable to retain his title, he will be part of a five-strong Indonesian contingent that will contest the ninth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, an R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Shenzhen in March.
Fadhli Rahman Soetarso flourished in the Boys’ Under-18 Division, securing first place following a sudden-death play-off against M. Seandy Alfarabi.
Among the females, Ida Ayu Melati was a runaway winner in the Girls’ Under-21 Division. She set the tone with a solid opening 72 and never looked in danger of relinquishing her early advantage.
It was a closer contest in the Girls’ Under-16 Division with Rivani Adelia Sihotang holding off a brave last-round fightback from Inez Beatrice Wanamarta. Five shots in arrears heading into the final day, Wanamarta closed with a 74, reducing Sihotang’s margin of victory to two strokes.
But making light of a thunder delay on day one and a 45-minute stop for torrential rain on day two it was the performance of Ali that caught the eye as he won the Boys’ Under-21 Division for the second year in succession. This year, though, he showed a marked improvement, bettering his score from 2014 by no fewer than 12 strokes.
Six-time Major champion Sir Nick, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “To improve by 12 shots from last year is an outstanding effort from Faraby Ali. His victory will, I’m sure, give him plenty of confidence as he prepares for the forthcoming Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.”
Supported by The R&A and Mission Hills and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and is made up of 19 championships.
Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006.
Today, 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in 30-plus countries worldwide, touching more than 7,000 golfers each year. Past winners include Tseng Ya-ni and Rory McIlroy, who took his tally of professional Major titles to four with his wins at last year’s Open Championship and US PGA Championship.
Faldo Series Indonesia Championship, leading final scores:
Boys’ Under-21:
215 – Faraby Ali (77-68-70)
227 – Christopher Johan (75-74-78)
239 – Putu Andrew Mulyadi (83-80-76)
Boys’ Under-18:
219 – Fadhli Rahman Soetarso (76-71-72), M. Seandy Alfarabi (71-75-73)
223 – Yuma Salmun (74-78-71)
Boys’ Under-16
216 – Tirto Tamardi (72-72-72)
222 – Kevin Caesario Akbar (77-75-70), Stevanus Daniel Wirawan (73-72-77)
Girls’ Under-21
228 – Ida Ayu Melati (72-78-78)
237 – Victoria Chandra (80-78-79)
244 – Yeyen Safitri (83-82-79)
Girls’ Under-16
229 – Rivani Adelia Sihotang (73-79-77)
231 – Inez Beatrice Wanamarta (78-79-74)
233 – Nathania Damarisa Rim (83-82-79).
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