Faldo Series Grand Final falls to Ting-Wei Chang
There was a great duel in the desert at the Faldo Series Grand Final where Scotland’s Jamie Mann just missed out on the main prize in the UAE.
FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play
The 18-year-old, who is based in Portugal and qualified for the event by winning in France, finished three shots behind overall champion Ting-Wei Chang but matters were only decided on the final two holes, both of which were birdied by the Taiwanese teenager.
The leading pair set the tournament alight on the opening day at Al Ain, sharing 12 birdies and an eagle before Chang posted his second successive 64 on day two. His bogey-free effort left him one clear going into the final round with Mann recording a 66 to back up his first-round, bogey-free 63.
On the final day the Asian youngster looked to have taken a stranglehold on the event as he managed successive birdies on five, six and seven while his playing partner was level par through seven and would also bogey the ninth.
However Mann was thrown a lifeline as Chang tripled the ninth, cutting his advantage to just one.
In front of them Swede Didrik Bengtsson mounted a late charge and birdies on 13, 14 and 18 helped him move into third in the final reckoning.
But it would be the Taiwan talent’s day as he parred ten through 16 before extending his lead with a two at 17 and another birdie at the par five closing hole.
In seventh overall was Isle of Man star Ana Dawson, who took home the leading female finisher prize.
The 22-year-old, who won the Comboy Scratch at the start of the season, enjoyed a dream start to the annual showpiece event, going bogey free as she shot a 64 and subsequent rounds of 69 and 71 were enough to leave her two shots ahead of Abu Dhabi-based English golfer Lara El Chaib.
The Faldo Series was created in 1996 and it has developed into one of the most well-respected international golf series events in the world. This year 56 players from five continents took part in the Grand Final.