Hong Kong (August 2): Five years after being narrowly denied a spot in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, Lou Tan Hin-chi has set the record straight.
Repelling the challenges of numerous other national squad members, Tan emerged triumphant in the 15th Faldo Series Hong Kong Championship that was reduced to 36 holes following the cancellation of the second round due to heavy rain.
Displaying a particular liking for the back nine on the North Course at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Course, 20-year-old Tan posted a 36-hole aggregate of four-under-par 140.
That was two strokes clear of Isaac Lam and Jack Chong Chi-chuen and three in front of Lincoln Lau Ching-sum, the defending Faldo Series Hong Kong champion.
In his last year of eligibility as a junior, qualification to the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final was especially sweet for Tan who missed out in 2016 when he finished runner-up in the Boys’ Under-16 category of the Hong Kong championship. Only age-group category winners are granted a place in the Grand Final.
Living upto to his billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites, Tan, who has a handicap index of +2.5, blazed to the top of the leaderboard with an opening four-under 68 that included four birdies on the back nine along with and an eagle-three at the long 17th.
Winner of the Hong Kong Open Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships in 2019, Tan wobbled briefly in the second round with a shaky front nine three-over 39 to leave the door ajar for his pursuers.
As on day one, however, the back nine proved to his liking with three birdies and six pars adding up to an inward 33 and a round of even-par 72.
Other age-group winners at Kau Sai Chau were Isaac Lee (Bous’ Under-16), Tiffany Wu Nga-wun (Girls’ Under-21) and Arianna Lau (Girls’ Under-16).
The 2020-21 Faldo Series Asia season is supported by The R&A and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.
As well as a series of qualifiers in Thailand, events are planned in Australia, Bangladesh, China, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam over the next few months, subject to prevailing conditions and circumstances.
The 14th and 15th editions of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final are being planned at Vietnam’s Laguna Lăng Cô in November, 2021.
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 4,000 golfers each year. Past champions include Tseng Ya-ni and Rory McIlroy, both multiple Major winners, while recent LPGA Tour winners include Thidapa Suwannapura (2010 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final Girls’ champion) and Nasa Hataoka (2016 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final Girls’ champion).
Faldo Series Hong Kong Championship, leading final scores:
Boys’ Under-21:
140 – Lou Tan Chi-hin (68-72).
142 – Isaac Lam (73-69); Jack Chong Chi-chuen (72-70).
143 – Lincoln Lau Ching-sum (73-70).
Boys’ Under-16:
146 – Isaac Lee (70-76).
149 – Mich Yuen Chi-yeung (76-73).
150 – Leo Wong (79-71). 151 – Denzel Sherpa Rai (78-73).
Girls’ Under-21:
149 – Tiffany Wu Nga-wun (69-80).
150 – Inara Diti Sharma (75-75).
151 – Chloe Chan (75-76).
Girls’ Under-16:
147 – Arianna Lau (72-75).
149 – Covi Yan Hiu-yau (76-73).
153 – Obi Chan (78-77).
