By IANS
Shenzhen : Rashid Khan of India was crowned Faldo Series Asia champion for 2007 at Mission Hills Golf Club in China Saturday with an outstanding six-under-par 66 on the Faldo Course and a 54-hole total of 205.
India’s growing golf strength got another boost as Rashid led a one-two for India with Rahul Bakshi tying for second with a course record of nine-under 63.
The 16-year-old Rashid Khan from Delhi stormed to victory with a four-under-par back nine of 31 that included an eagle two on 15 and a birdie two immediately after on 16. He finished five ahead of joint runners up Chan Shih Chang, 21, the overnight leader from Chinese Taipei who carded a level-par 72, and team mate Bakshi, 17, who raced up the leader-board with a final round 63, a new course record.
Khan commented after his round: “I am absolutely delighted to win and to do it with Nick Faldo watching is extremely exciting. Last night Nick told us to be positive today and play with a smile on our faces and that is exactly what I did. I have never played so well.”
As well as collecting the Faldo Series Asia trophy from Nick Faldo, Khan also receives an invitation to the European grand final of the Faldo Series 2008, valuable R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking points and, courtesy of the Asian Tour, a place in the Volvo Masters Asia 2008 and a scholarship to stage one of Asian Tour Qualifying School next year.
As the leading girl, Lin Tzu Chi of Chinese Taipei will be offered a start in a flagship event on the 2008 Ladies European Tour. Lin, 17, carded a two-over-par 74 to finish on 218, one shot ahead of her compatriot and defending girls’ champion Hsieh Yu Ling, 15.
Faldo said: “I would like to congratulate Rashid on becoming a worthy champion of the Faldo Series Asia 2007. He beat a field here at Mission Hills that contained a lot of impressive players, all of whom I enjoyed watching in action as well as spending time with off the course.”