Daeng Delivers the Goods at Faldo Series Malaysia Championship?

Daeng Abdul Rahman Abd Aziz enhanced his reputation as one of his country’s rising golfing stars with an accomplished victory in the ninth edition of the Faldo Series Malaysia Championship.

Continuing a good run of recent form, the 14-year-old from the southern Malaysian State of Johor proved too strong for his rivals at the A’Famosa Golf Resort, named after the famous 16th century Portuguese fortifications of Melaka.

Swinging with authority, Daeng hardly played a false stroke en route to rounds of 73, 71 and 71 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking event.

With a 54-hole total of one-under-par 215, Daeng, who boasts a handicap index of 1.2, had the distinction of being the only player in the field to finish in red figures, signifying a sub-par return.

Runner-up at the Malaysian School Sports tournament in March, sixth in June’s Perak Amateur Open and third in the 100-Plus Malaysian Junior Open a fortnight ago, Daeng won both the overall title and Boys’ Under-16 category at a canter at A’Famosa, a 90-minute drive from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

As a reward for his efforts, Daeng has earned a trip to the 2014-2015 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Mission Hills China next March, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

Six-time Major championship winner Faldo, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “Congratulations to Daeng on his success. I look forward to seeing how he fares against the leading players from around the region when we all gather in China next year.”

Joining Daeng at the Shenzhen venue will be Malaysian national women’s team stalwart Nur Durriyah Damian, who posted an aggregate of 220 to successfully defend her title in the Girls’ Under-21 category and also finish second overall, emulating her effort from last year.

Other category winners who can look forward to spending time with Faldo at Mission Hills are Nick Ang Xia Ee (Boys’ Under-21), Daniel HJ Mohd Sidek (Boys’ Under-18) and Ashley Lau Jen Wen (Girls’ Under-16).

Sidek had additional cause to celebrate as he recorded a hole-in-one at the par-three 16th during the first round.

Supported by The R&A, ISPS and Mission Hills and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and is made up of a minimum of 20 championships.

Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006.

Today, 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in 30-plus countries worldwide, touching more than 7,000 golfers each year. Past winners include Tseng Ya-ni and Rory McIlroy, who took his tally of professional Major titles to four with his wins at July’s Open Championship and August’s US PGA Championship.

Faldo Series Malaysia Championship, leading final scores: Boys’ Under-21: 232 – Nick Ang Xia Ee (77-79-76). 233 – Kuhanesh Ganesan (80-78-75). Boys’ Under-18: 230 – Daniel HJ Mohd Sidek (77-76-77). 231 – Amir Nazrin Jailani (75-79-77). 232 – Alvin Hiew (86-71-75). Boys’ Under-16: 215 – Daeng Abdul Rahman Abd Aziz (73-71-71). 221 – Aaerishna Shahsthy (77-73-71). 225 – Ervin Chang (73-76-76). Girls’ Under-21: 220 – Nur Durriyah Damian (72-75-73). 230 – Nor Eliana Ariffin (76-75-79). 232 – Sarfina Seretharan (72-78-82). Girls’ Under-16: 222 – Ashley Lau Jen Wen (78-73-71). 232 – Qistina Balqis Azhar (83-76-73). 233 – Devaki Do Anatha Ganesh (81-73-79).