Four Tied at the Top after Day One of Faldo Final

Junior Champion Princess Mary Superal (Philippines) and Kelly Whaley (USA) are among a four-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the Faldo Series Grand Final at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, USA. The pair led for most of the day before Simon Zach (Czech Republic) and last year’s Boys’ Under-18 champion Zachary Bouchou (USA) also posted 69s to tie at the top. Bouchou has recently committed his future to Oklahoma State University, whose notable alumni includes Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan.

The leading quadruplet have a one shot lead over John-Ross Galbraith of Northern Ireland who recorded a level-par 70. Galbraith will be trying to follow in the footsteps of Rory McIlroy for the second time this year after emulating his Irish Close title success in June. McIlroy won multiple Faldo Series titles and was a part of Team Faldo from 2004-2006.

Last year’s Boys’ Overall winner Paul Kinnear is also in contention, the 20-year-old from England opened with a one-over 71 to lie in a share of sixth, two shots off the lead.

83 golfers from 20 countries have joined Sir Nick Faldo at The Greenbrier, USA for the eighteenth edition of the Faldo Series Grand Final which concludes on October 24.

With the field divided into five age-groups, three boys and two girls will each receive a trophy and an exemption into the Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March. The leading boy and girl will also be invited to play in a professional Tour event and the title of Faldo Series Champion will go to the player with the lowest gross score, regardless of age or gender.

Off the course players have spent time with a number of industry experts including Faldo; Ted Bishop – the 38th President of The PGA of America; Fanny Sunesson – one of the most successful caddies in golf history; Faldo’s personal coach Keith Wood and experts from TrackMan and ProGolf Health.

Supported by The R&A, The Greenbrier, ISPS Handa, European Tour, PGA Tour, PGA of America, West Virginia Golf Association, TaylorMade, Golf Channel, CBS, Audemars Piguet and Southern Golf the 2014 Faldo Series Europe schedule features 17 tournaments in 15 countries including three in England plus others in Abu Dhabi, Ireland, Chile, Wales, Brazil, Scotland, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and the USA.

Established in 1996, 40 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 30 countries worldwide with more than 7,000 golfers participating each year.  Past winners include Major Champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

Leading scores after round one: Boys’ Under-21: 69 – Zachary Bauchou (USA); 70 – John-Ross Galbraith (NIR); 71 – Paul Kinnear (ENG). Boys’ Under-18: 69 – Simon Zach (CZE); 74 – Jamie Dick (ENG); 75 – Ted Collins (IRL), Zheng Kai Bai (CHN).  Boys’ Under-16: 72 – Rohan Boettcher (BRA); 73 – Kuba Urbanski (PL); 75 – Colin Bowles (USA), Charlie Strickland (ENG).  Girls’ Under-21: 69 – Princess Mary Superal (PHI), Kelly Whaley (USA); 71 – Jillian Hollis (USA).  Girls’ Under-16: 71 – Pauline Del Rosario (PHI); 74 – Shannon McWilliam (SCO), Emma Spitz (AUT).

For live updates during the 18th Faldo Series Grand Final visit www.nickfaldo.com.  You can also follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/faldoseries.