The First Faldo Series Nepal Championship golf tournament concluded at the Gokarna Golf Club on Friday with the participation of four Bhutanese, an Indian and 31 Nepalis young golfers.[break]
"It was great tournament, really good," said Phillips to Nepali media after the completion of the tournament. "We had been talking since a couple of years with Nepal Golf Association (NGA) and its General Secretary Tashi (Ghale) to organize the tournament for the young golfers of Nepal, Bhutan, Northern part of India and Bangladesh," he explained the reason behind hosting the tournament in Nepal.
Phillips claimed that the tournament provided opportunity to the young golfers of the region to learn to play in a pressure situation. "In Nepal alone, around 100 kids experienced the tournament pressure by participating in qualifying tournaments," said Phillips.
"For the first time around 40 golfers participated in the First Faldo Series Nepal Championship. It is a good number for the first time and we hope it would grow in coming years," he added.
"More kids coming from grass root level is important for the development of golf in Nepal. We hope some strong players will emerge out in future. However, it takes time," said Phillips.
Phillips praised young Nepali golfers for their passion toward the game. "They have the desire and passion. What they need now is more experience and expert advice. Golf is relatively new to this country and it takes time to nurture some strong players," said Phillips.
Sangya Ongdi Lama of Nepal clinched the gold medal in girls´ section of the championship and qualified for the grand finale of the Seventh Faldo Series Asia while another young Nepali golfer Sunil KC received wild card for the finale to be held at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China.
Bhutanese golfers Ziwang Gurung and Karma Dorji Khorko clinched gold medals in boys´ 17 to 21 age group and boys´ 12 to 16 years age group respectively to secure tickets for China.
Established in 1996, 38 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 28 countries worldwide with more than 7,000 golfers participating each year. The 2012/2013 Faldo Series Asia schedule features a record 18 tournaments in 15 countries, including four in China and others in The Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. NGA and the Gokarna Golf Club jointly hosted the tournament in Nepal.
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