Faldo Series Joy for Jakub in Italy

Slovakia’s Jakub Hrinda booked his spot in a third straight Grand Final with victory in the second Faldo Series Italy Championship at Golf Club Toscana, Tuscany. Hrinda ground out a three shot victory with rounds of 70 and 71 to set up a return to The Greenbrier in October.

Joining 14-year-old Hrinda at the eighteenth Faldo Series Grand Final will be Austria’s Emma Spitz, winner of the Girls’ Division and last year’s inaugural winner of the Italy Championship Elena Pagni, who finished in second place.

Italians Lorenzo Damiani (Boys’ Under-21) will also make a return trip to The Greenbrier, whilst Thomas Werner (Boys’ Under-18) won on the first playoff hole to claim his place at the Grand Final.

Daire King (a Faldo accredited coach) was on hand to work with competitors throughout the week.  King also spent time with Stefano Palmieri, a member of Golf Club Toscana who is set to compete in the Irish Blind Open on July 2-5, an event which is supported by ISPS Handa, a Major partner of the Faldo Series.

Supported by The R&A, ISPS Handa, The European Tour and The Greenbrier 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 final scores: Boys’ Under-21: 147 – Lorenzo Damiani (ITA) 79-68; 151 – Antonio Dal Grande (ITA) 75-76. Boys’ Under-18: 146 – Thomas Werner (ITA) 75-71, Andrea Martini (ITA) 71-75; 154 – Emilio Santalena (ITA) 77-77. Boys’ Under-16: 141 – Jakub Hrinda (SK) 71-70; 147 – Noah Brunner (SWI) 73-74; 152 – Pier Giuseppe Rivano (ITA) 79-73. Girls’: 144 – Emma Spitz (AUT) 74-70; 151 – Elena Pagni (ITA) 75-76; 155 – Clementina Corrias (ITA) 79-76.

For more information on the Faldo Series visit www.nickfaldo.com