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TOP young golfers from across the Middle East will once again compete for a place in the prestigious Faldo Series Asia Grand Final when the second Faldo Series Middle East Championship tees off at the Royal Golf Club on October 8-9.
Last year's inaugural Middle East Championship in Bahrain was a huge success, with boys and girls aged 12 to 21 attending from six different countries across the Gulf region.
Local children aged 11 and under were also invited to compete in a Faldo Mini Series event on the Royal Golf Club's par-3 course followed by a barbecue lunch and golf trick-show with their families.
England's Daniel Owen will defend his title on the course that will host the European Tour's inaugural Volvo Tournament of Champions in January 2011.
21-year-old Owen, a resident of Bahrain, right, is expected to face stiff competition from a field of more than 50 competitors, up to five of whom will qualify for the fifth Grand Final next March, an R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event hosted by six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Golf Club in China.
Underwritten by 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.
For details on entry into the 36-hole Faldo Series Middle East Championship on October 8-9 please email golfevents@theroyalgolfclub.com
The European Tour event, as revealed exclusively by GulfWeekly will offer 1.7 million euros (roughly BD832,000) in prize money. The tournament is being fully supported by the Bahrain Economic Development Board.
Play will take place between January 27 and 30.
It will see European Tour tournament winners compete together with leading amateurs on one day of the tournament.
