Shanghai: The Faldo Series Asia touched down in Shanghai for the first time when the junior series named after six-time Major winner Nick Faldo attracted 63 young players to Silport for the first round under cloudy and wet conditions but the weather for the second round turns very sunny and hot.

Following a practice day, the youngsters played 36 holes under a stroke-play format over Silport’s challenging West and North courses. With a first-day cut eliminating those who had shot over 100, Ou Zhijun carded an aggregate five-over 149, just enough for him to claim the low gross champion and winner of the boys’ under-18 honors ahead of runner-up Hong Wei (150).

Other prizes saw Li Motao (165) win the boys under 21 ahead of Cheng Weibin (171), and Li Haotong (161) the boys under 16. Zhao Peiyun (162) was runner-up.

With the girls, Yuan Xiaojun (172) took the under 21 crown and Yang Jiaxin (166), the under 16s. Overall champion Ou and Li Motao, Li Haotong, Zhao, Yuan and Yang are now qualified for the grand final to take place at Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Golf Club in March.

With the competition supported by such luminaries as Silport chairman Beta Soong, the Shanghai and Jiangsu golf associations and the local media, the prize ceremony proved one of the highlights of the event in highlighting the strength of junior golf in China.

Tom Philips of the Faldo Series said the Shanghai event was one of four mainland competitions to be staged among six overall in China. He said the tournaments were pure competitions aimed at helping talented youngsters realize their golf dreams.

He thanked Silport and the other parties involved in making the Shanghai event a success. He closed in wishing the club even greater success in hosting the series next year.