Kumaresan Shanmugam triumphed in Brunei

Brunei (November 24): Malaysian Kumaresan Shanmugam won the inaugural Faldo Series Brunei Championship to claim his place in the Faldo Series Asia (FSA) Grand Final in China.

Brunei’s Muhammad Hariz Hashim finished third at the award-winning Empire Hotel and Country Club to earn a Grand Final spot as the top-placed national player.

After shooting rounds of 71 and 73 to finish on two-over and win by two shots, 18-year-old Shanmugam said: “This is my first win in a major tournament so I’m pleased by how well I coped with my nerves. I’m very excited about going to China for the Grand Final and picking up tips from Sir Nick Faldo.”

Malaysian resident Joshua Gibbons, 16, finished second overall on four-over to top the Boys’ Under-16 Division and join Shanmugam at the sixth Grand Final, which six-time Major champion Faldo will host at Mission Hills Golf Club from March 14-16, 2012.

Also travelling to the World Amateur Golf Ranking event in Shenzhen will be 20-year-old Hashim, who finished six shots further back in third place, and Malaysian Jaclyn Chen Jin Yi, 13, who won the girls’ category with rounds of 78 and 79.

Brunei’s best young golfers, aged 12 to 21, competed alongside overseas competitors for the inaugural Brunei Championship at The Empire, venue for the 2012 Royal Trophy and winner of Best Golf Resort in the 2011 Asian Golf Monthly Awards. The competitors also spent time with Jonathan Wallett during the two-day tournament, receiving expert advice from the PGA elite coach in order to aid their golfing development.

A group of local children aged 11 and under took part in a fun ‘Faldo Mini Series’ tournament, part of a drive to simultaneously create access to the game for a younger audience. The winner over two rounds of nine holes was Brunei’s Qawi Aslimon.

Established in 1996, 35 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 25 countries worldwide with more than 5,000 golfers participating each year. Past winners include current Major champions Rory McIlroy and Tseng Ya-ni.

The FSA is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A, official golfwear partner UFL and official suppliers TaylorMade and Tricor. It is endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation.

LEADING FINAL-ROUND SCORES

Boys’ Under-21: 144 – Kumaresan Shanmugam (Mal) 71-73; 152 – Muhammad Hariz Hashim (Bru) 73-79; 154 – Quwim Aslimon (Bru) 79-75; 155 – Khairul Kamis (Bru) 81-74.

Boys’ Under-16: 146 – Joshua Gibbons (Eng) 73-73; 156 – Jesse Atlas (USA) 78-78; 162 – Muhamad Azizi Junaidi (Mal) 84-78; 164 – Qazzri Aslimon (Bru) 81-83.

Girls’ Under-21: 157 – Jaclyn Chen Jin Yi (Mal) 78-79; 162 – Abigail Chong (Mal) 80-82; 176 – Almas Syadzwani Kamis (Bru) 86-90.