The stunning international success of Tseng Ya-ni will act as an inspiration to competitors in this week’s Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship.
During Tseng’s amateur days, the Faldo Series was one of the platforms that helped to catapult the Chinese Taipei native to worldwide fame.
Tseng’s achievement in going on to become the world’s top-ranked female professional should inspire her compatriots to shoot for the stars, said Sir Nick Faldo.
Six-time Major championship winner Faldo said: “Among the aims of the Faldo Series is to discover and nurture talented young players, such as Ya-ni. We are proud of the part that the Faldo Series played in setting Ya-ni on her way.
“Since her success in the Faldo Series, she has gone on to become a wonderful role model for youngsters in Chinese Taipei and across Asia.
“It’s my hope that we’ll see more male and female players from Chinese Taipei breaking through on the professional Tours in the coming years – and I’ll be keeping a close eye on how competitors fare at this year’s Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship.”
To be staged at Sunrise Golf and Country Club from June 25-27, a minimum of four places will be up for grabs in the Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March.
The second event of the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia season, the Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship is expected to feature all off the country’s leading young amateurs, including Cheng Ssu-chia.
Cheng had the distinction of being crowned Faldo Series Asia Girls’ Champion in 2012, emulating the performances of her friend and mentor Tseng Ya-ni.
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 will stretch over 11 months and be 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 Major champions Rory McIlroy and Tseng Ya-ni.
In September 2014, Faldo will begin taking students at a full-time residential academy for education and golf development in America. The first Faldo Series Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona is also home to the Faldo Series USA and marks the next significant step in the programme’s history.
Faldo Series http://nickfaldo.com/about-faldo-series