Faldo

4th November 2009: With the Faldo Series Grand Final 2009 drawn to a close, England’s Jonathan Bell flew back from Brazil last weekend as the newly-crowned Faldo Series champion.

The leader from day one, 18-year-old Bell from London posted three impressive rounds of 70, 69 and 73 for a four-under-par total of 212, one better than his compatriot Thomas Lewis.  Another Englishman, James Watts shot the low round of the tournament – an impressive eight-under-par 64 – to tie for the lead after day two but struggled to a 76 in the final round.

Of the 72 finalists – including players from the UK, Ireland, Russia, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay – Brazil’s Pedro Costa Lima of Sao Paolo was the leading non-British player after shooting a four-under-par 68 in round three to claim the Boys Under 21 category. 

England’s Holly Clyburn, 18, from Cleethorps was crowned Faldo Series girls’ champion, finishing on 229, two ahead of Curtis Cup star Carly Booth of Scotland.

The winners of each age category will be invited by Nick Faldo to play in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China in March 2010.  The overall boys’ and girls’ champion will receive an invite to play in a professional tournament.

Boys Under 21: Pedro Costa Lima
Boys Under 18 and 2009 Faldo Series champion: Jonathan Bell
Boys Under 16: Oliver Carr, 16, from Prenton, England
Girls Under 21 and overall girls’ champion: Holy Clyburn
Girls Under 16: Brogan Townend, 15, of Blackburn, England

Bell commented after his win: “It’s been a wonderful event.  Having Nick here has made it a very special week for me; I’ve loved every minute.  Being in Brazil has been a totally different experience for me – the people, the surroundings, the culture – it’s all been great.  Having a man of Nick’s calibre here to take clinics and learn from makes this a very different tournament.”

Faldo commented: “It has given me immense pleasure to host what has been such a successful tournament.  I want to congratulate all of the players and in particular our new champion Jonathan Bell.  I would also like to thank all of our sponsors, without whom it would not be possible to create these opportunities on such an impressive scale.”

“I also want to thank the people of Rio de Janeiro for the warm welcome that we have received this week.  To have such an iconic city as a backdrop for our event has made it very special.  Overall the tournament has been a resounding success and I congratulate all of the finalists for their conduct and enthusiasm both on and off the course.  I look forward to meeting many of them next year and wish them the very best of luck for the forthcoming season.”

The Faldo Series would like to thank all of its generous sponsors, including: The R&A, the European Tour, Golf Corporate Brazil and the Secretary of State for Sport and Tourism of Rio de Janeiro.