Tat Filipinas hosts first Faldo series Oct. 28-29

MANILA, Philippines - The TAT Filipinas Golf Club in San Pedro, Laguna returns to the limelight as host of the inaugural Faldo Series Philippines Championship Oct. 28-29 with top junior players set to participate.

The event, supported by UBS, Mission Hills and The R&A, drew more than 50 of the country’s most talented young golfers aged 12-21 vying for slots in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final hosted by six-time Major winner Nick Faldo next March at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China.

“It humbles us to be hosting this very prestigious event. Sir Nick Faldo’s contributions to golf are very inspiring and it is certainly a great honor on our part to be involved with the Faldo Series Asia,” said Atty. Edna Pana, president of TAT Filipinas.

Faldo took note of the Philippines’ contributions to the promotion of golf.

“The Philippines has produced some great champions in Asia in the past so I hope the Faldo Series can help to identify and nurture several more in the future. I am grateful to TAT Filipinas Golf Club and the Junior Golf Foundation for their support. I wish all the competitors the best of luck and look forward to meeting the winners at the Grand Final,” he said.

Younger children from the local community will also be attending the tournament, endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, to receive free coaching and watch the competitors in action, part of Faldo’s drive to simultaneously create access to the sport at a grassroots level.

The Philippines Championship is one of 15 Faldo Series Asia tournaments in 12 different countries during 2009/2010 season, including four in mainland China plus one each in Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

As well as spending time with Faldo, over 60 Asian finalists from across the region will compete for five invites to the Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil plus the opportunity to play in a flagship Asian Tour or Ladies European Tour event for the overall boy and girl champion.