Lang Co, Hue, Vietnam: Led by Nguyen Anh Minh and Le Khanh Hung, Vietnam’s elite junior golfers will be seeking to ensure recent history repeats itself when the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final returns to Laguna Lang Co next month.
The 36-hole final on April 25-26 is the culmination of the Asia leg of one of the world’s most celebrated junior circuits that will see the best young golfers from around the region battle it out over the award-winning Faldo Signature Design at Laguna Golf Lang Co.
“I could not be more excited to be returning to Central Vietnam for another Faldo Series Asia Grand Final,” said six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo. “I expect nothing short of a thrilling showdown. The course always produces a spectacular showcase, and I’m excited to welcome back all the players for what I expect to be a truly memorable occasion.”
The final leaderboard at last year’s event had a decidedly local flavour. A closing 67 saw top honours go to home-grown Nguyen Anh Minh, who will be defending his title this year.
After making history by becoming the first Vietnamese to emerge as Faldo Series Asia champion, Minh went on to play a key role in the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team’s defeat of their European Golf Association rivals in the Ryder Cup-style match play Bonallack Trophy in Spain.
He completed a memorable year by earning a share of seventh place in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne – the first top-10 recorded by a Vietnamese golfer in the region’s premier amateur event.
For Le Khanh Hung also, 2023 was a year to savour. He tied for third place in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and then went on to win the individual gold medal in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia.
In the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, Nguyen Dang Minh (eighth) and Nguyen Duc Son (ninth) also posted top-10 finishes.
Inaugurated by Faldo after his victory at the 1996 US Masters, the Faldo Series is recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls with competitors able to test themselves against the best juniors in their age group from around the world.
The Series has been a pathway for players to reach the top levels of the game, with over 70 Faldo Series competitors now playing on professional Tours. Notable alumni include Major winners Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett and Tseng Ya-ni, as well as other familiar names including Tyrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Eddie Pepperell, Li Haotong, Mel Reid, Carly Booth and Nasa Hataoka.
The Series expanded into Asia in 2006, recognising the huge potential on the Asian junior golf circuit. Since then, Laguna Lang Co has played a central role in the initiative as the host venue for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final: a reflection of its status as a Faldo Signature course, an elite category among Faldo Designs.
The golf course is part of an award-winning integrated resort that encompasses Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co.
With the resort ownership company, Banyan Group, marking its 30th anniversary at the pinnacle of Asia’s hospitality industry, 2024 is a milestone year for the Singapore-headquartered organisation.
