History will be made when the first edition of the Faldo Series New Zealand Championship tees-off this week.
To be staged at the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch from January 11-13, the event has attracted more than 60 of New Zealand’s brightest young golfers.
It’s the first time in the nine-year history of the Faldo Series Asia that New Zealand has been included on the schedule. There are three boys’ age group categories and one for girls.
Six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “I’m delighted that the first Faldo Series New Zealand Championship will take place this week.
“We remain focused on developing the Faldo Series in more countries and introducing the lessons and opportunity of this sport through elite junior amateur competition along with grass roots introduction to golfers on all levels.”
Dave Mangan, General Manager at NZ Golf Inc, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Nick Faldo in giving our up-and-coming junior golfers the opportunity to participate in the Faldo Series Asia. NZ Golf hopes that this new pathway to the challenges of global golf will help to establish our next Lydia Ko on the world stage.”
Andrew Bell, General Manager at Clearwater Golf Club, said: “We are proud to be hosting the inaugural New Zealand event and wish to record our thanks to our local supporting sponsors Hellers, Express Cargo and Chambers PR, all of whom have a proud history of supporting junior golf development in the Canterbury region.
“As hosts we look forward to crowning the national and age grade champions in what looks to be a strongly contested field and then assisting those players to success in China at the Faldo Series Asian Grand Final.”
Supported by The R&A, ISPS 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 http://nickfaldo.com/about-faldo-series
Read more stories about the world of Professional Golf and latest list of Best-read stories