Owen Retains Faldo Series Middle East Championship

2009 winner Daniel Owen retained his title as Faldo Series Asia Middle East Champion with a level par final round of 72 to capture the title for the second consecutive year with a tournament score of two under par.

Owen will once again represent the Middle East and the Royal Golf Club at the Grand Final at Mission Hills in China along with three other category winners.

Ronan Hall capped a good weekend by finishing in second place with a score of nine over par while Sam Hobday finished in third on the same score.

In the girls’ category Georgia Coughlin produced some great golf to qualify alongside Owen for China while Dhari Al Borshaid and Mohammed Jalal won the Middle East Nationals Under-21 and Under-16 categories respectively.

Photo 1:    Daniel Owen (front, kneeling) with the other category winners

”It’s great to win the tournament again this year and qualify for China,” commented Owen at the prize-giving ceremony. “Having been there and experienced competing in the Grand Final already, I believe this will stand me in good stead for a successful week. Well done to Sam and Ronan for putting up a great fight – I had to work hard to get over the line.”

“Congratulations to Dan,” added John Wilson, the Royal Golf Club’s Golf Events Key Accounts Manager. “It’s never easy trying to retain a title, but he’s played some solid golf this weekend and reaped the rewards. We wish him all the very best in the Grand Final at Mission Hills in March.”

Underwritten by golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo himself, the Faldo Series Asia is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A as well as official golf wear partner Alpine Creations. It is also endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation (APGC).

Further to the success of the Faldo Series Europe, launched in 1996, the Faldo Series Asia was established in 2006 to expand its search for tomorrow’s champions.  Over 30 tournaments now take place in more than 25 countries across the UK, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia and former Faldo Series winners include Rory McIlroy, Nick Dougherty, Marc Warren, Melissa Reid, Florentyna Parker and Yani Tseng, all of whom have since won on Tour.

The 2010/2011 Faldo Series Asia schedule features a record 17 tournaments in 12 different countries including six in mainland China plus others in The Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Bahrain, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Thailand.

Results:
Expat Boys Under-21 category: 1st Daniel Owen (142), 2nd Ronan Hall (153). Expat Girls Under-21 category: 1st Georgia Coughlin (186), 2nd Tabea Lutz (199). Middle East Nationals Under-21 category: 1st Dhari Al Borshaid (168), 2nd Ali Al Hajeri (189). Middle East Nationals Under-16 category: 1st Mohammed Jalal (177), 2nd Fahad Abdulla Al Hakam (188).