The 15-year-old MENA Tour regular is one of 70 players from 18 countries set to contest the 54-hole decider, one of junior golf’s most coveted events which is again being personally hosted by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo.

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Gupta qualified for finale after clinching the Faldo Series Middle East title in style, negotiating the same but then windswept Abu Dhabi layout in three-under-par in late March to win the under-16 title by nine shots from fellow Claude Harmon 3 Performance Golf Academy star Toby Bishop and the overall title by two shots from Ziang Xu, the under-18 division champion.

Arjun Gupta

Gupta is flanked by Matthew Faldo and AESGC club captain Anton Van Schalkwyk after winning the Faldo Series Middle East title in March to qualify for this week’s Europe Grand Final.

Since the European Series opened at Al Ain in March, more than 2,000 players have competed across 20 qualifying events around the world. Five respective age group and gender category winners will be crowned on Thursday and Faldo won’t be surprised if a new star or two are unearthed at Al Ain.

Rory McIlroy, European Tour stars Jordan Smith and Eddie Pepperell and Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour player Melissa Reid are former Faldo Series graduates in a series designed to aid the development of the world’s best juniors through elite competition and grow the game by staging events in less-established golfing nations.

“I’ve kept a close eye on scoring this year, and from some of the numbers posted in qualifying, I think we may have one of the most talented classes yet. I’m looking forward to meeting the competitors and welcoming them to Al Ain,” the 62-year-old Englishman said.

Gupta is in the final threesome out in Tuesday’s opening round at 10.55 am UAE time.

Also in the field are Taiwanese junior Chang Hsin Chiao, who will be aiming to follow her Asia victory with another at the Europe Grand Final. Pavol Mach, winner of the Slovakia Championship at Black Stork Golf Resort which celebrated its 10th Faldo Series anniversary this year, will also compete at Al Ain, alongside Jordan Duminy, this year’s newly crowned South Africa Champion and upcoming Junior Presidents Cup player.

The Faldo Series, in its 23rd year overall and boast 40 events in more than 30 countries, also celebrated 10-year anniversaries in Germany and Czech Republic this year.

Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club takes centre stage for Faldo Series Europe Grand Final

“The Faldo Series dates back to 1996, the year of my sixth and final major,” said Faldo. “That summer, I unveiled a new concept designed to give talented juniors more chances to play in elite competitions, and I’m so proud of how it’s grown to become one of the stand-out events for junior golfers.

“We set out to create an event that all juniors would want, and aspire, to play. One that could prove to be an important role in their development, along with sharpening up their competitive mindset and preparing them for the future challenges they might face in trying to make it in professional golf.

“I think we’re well on our way to achieving our goals with the Series and in the last 23 years we’ve seen some truly great players come through the ranks.”

The post Dubai teen Arjun Gupta big local hope as Al Ain hosts Faldo Series Europe finale appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Toby Bishop had to settle for the not inconsiderable consolation of getting one up on his pal Josh Hill after his bid for the overall Faldo Series Europe title faded early in the final round at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.

The Dubai-based Welsh teen had lead overnight but a pair of bogeys on his opening two holes saw his bid flounder. Bishop eventually finished with a 54-hole total of 207, four shots behind eventual overall champion Ting-Yu Chen (Chinese Taipei) who also easily waltzed away with the U-18 title.

Bishop’s consolation was to hoist the U-16 crown by four-shots from serial Faldo Series champion and Jumeirah Golf Estates club-mate Hill.

Chen coped well with the pressures of sleeping on an overnight lead by adding a 68 to his glittering second round 65 to be crowned Faldo Series Europe Grand Final Champion.

His round got off to a solid start with two birdies in the opening seven holes, giving him a lead over his competitors that proved unassailable. He paired a bogey with a birdie on his closing 10 holes to finish on 7-under for the week and secure a dominant four shot win.

Ting Yu Chen

England’s Emily Brennan put an exclamation point on one of the best Faldo Series careers ever with a birdie on her final hole for a final round 68. Brennan won the 2015 and 2016 Faldo Series England Girls Championships, before placing fourth and third respectively in her age groups at the European Grand Final in those years. Her four-under par total was enough to see her finally get her hands on the trophy and win the Girls’ Under 21 category, and finish solo second overall.

The Al Ain event signalled the conclusion of the 22nd year of the Faldo Series Europe that has seen 1500 participants compete over 14 events held in 10 countries. The international flavour was exemplified in the five winners hailing from five separate countries around the world; Slovakia, Chinese Taipei, Wales, England and Kazakhstan.

Sir Nick Faldo commented: “It’s been a fantastic year for the Faldo Series, and the standard of this week’s golf epitomised that. We had the most international field we’ve ever had this year, and you just have to look at the list of winners to see that. Having winners from the likes of Kazakhstan and Slovakia goes to show how the game is growing, and if the Faldo Series can be a small part of that, then that makes me so proud.”

Final Scores:

Boys’ Under-21: 210* – Michael Brezovsky (SVK); 210 – Paul Murphy (IRE).
Boys’ Under 18: 203 – Ting-Yu Chen (TPE); 212 – Max Kennedy (IRE).
Boys’ Under 16: 207 – Toby Bishop (WAL); 211 – Josh Hill (ENG).
Girls’ Under 21: 206 – Emily Brennan (ENG); 207 – Ebonie Lewis (ENG).
Girls’ Under 16: 212 – Rivekka Jumagulova (KAZ); 223 – Rachel Foster (SCO).

*Denotes a winner determined by lowest final round.

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