Golf

Vietnamese golfers pose for photo ahead of the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final 2024 which will be held in Huế from April 24-27. Photo of VGA

HUẾ -- Vietnamese golfers are ready for the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final 2024 which will be held in Huế from April 24-27.

The host team arrived in the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô on April 22 to get familiar with the venue and finish their preparations for the tournament.

The men's team features Đoàn Uy, Nguyễn Đức Sơn, Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng, Trần Thế Bảo and Đỗ Dương Gia Minh while the women's team consists of Lê Chúc An, Thân Bảo Nghi, Nguyễn Vũ Hoàng Anh, Anna Lê and Nguyễn Bảo Châu in which Châu, 13, is the youngest member.

They are currently the nation's best golfers who have earned remarkable results in recent competitions.

The Finals will feature 50 players from 12 countries including Australia, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the hosts.

The tournament serves as a platform for young golfers to demonstrate their talent and competitive spirit on a golf course designed by the legend Sir Nick Faldo and marks a significant milestone in their career development.

Boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 21 compete throughout the year in the Faldo Series Asia for World Armature Golf Ranking points, aiming to meet the six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo at the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final this month.

Sir Nick Faldo, founder of the Faldo Series, said: “I can’t wait any longer to return to Central Việt Nam to witness the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, promising intense competitions. Laguna Lăng Cô golf course always delivers exciting performances, and I eagerly welcome all golfers back to such a memorable event!”

According to organisers, the global award-winning Par 71 course, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô proudly known as “Sir Nick Faldo’s Signature Design”, presents unique challenges for golfers at every level.

It also offers an opportunity for them to learn and refine their skills through training sessions with Sir Nick Faldo at Laguna.

A view from above of the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô which will host the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final until 2026. Photo of Laguna Golf Lăng Cô

“The outlook for golf in Việt Nam is exceptionally promising, something that was showcased by the leaderboard at last year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final," said Stephen Banks, director of Laguna Golf Lăng Cô.

"Our continued role as the host venue for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final underscores our commitment to fostering junior golf in Việt Nam and across Asia.”

It has been 17 years since the tournament expanded to Asia, and the past champions of the Faldo Series Asia have made significant marks regionally and on the world golf stage.

Many have continued to succeed, showcasing the importance of the Faldo Series Asia as a solid foundation for the future.

Rashid Khan, the second and third Faldo Series Asia champion, topped the Rolex Rankings in 2013 to win “The PGTI’s Rolex Player of the Year”. He became the first Indian to win the Sri Lanka Open 2016 in Colombo, and ascended to the world ranking of No 176, positioning himself as India’s prime candidate for a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Suzuka Yamaguchi, winner of the 12th edition, became the first Japanese woman to win the 2018 Australian Amateur Championship and secured a spot on the LPGA Tour in 2020, finishing 16th in the LPGA Q-Series 2019 rankings. VNS