Red-Hot Tam Triumphs in Faldo Series Hong Kong Golf Championship
Hong Kong (August 3): Kitty Tam Yik-ching kept her cool in the heat of battle, producing a sizzling birdie spree en route to retaining her Faldo Series Hong Kong Golf Championship crown.
With temperatures soaring into the mid-30s, Tam’s game caught fire as she posted a scintillating second round of five-under-par 68 over the demanding North Course at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Course.
That gave her a 36-hole total of 141 and a seven-stroke winning margin from Michelle Cheung, the first-day leader. It also guaranteed Tam a place in the starting line-up for the ninth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills next March.
Tam, who topped the overall standings as well as winning the Girls’ Under-21 category, said: “I’m excited to win and qualify for my fourth Faldo final. My best finish at Mission Hills is runner-up in my age group so I hope to go one better in March and become Hong Kong’s first winner.
“I recently got back from the US following a few weeks with the Hong Kong Golf Association squad. That experience really helped my game and, as a result, I played really consistently this week.”
For Tam, who currently has a handicap index of 1.1, the success continues a remarkable run of form since her triumph at Kau Sai Chau a year ago. In the ensuing 12 months she has won the Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur Championship and the Hong Kong Junior Close Championship.
She also had the distinction of finishing as the leading Hong Kong golf individual in this year’s Asia-Pacific Ladies Invitational Championship for the Queen Sirikit Cup.
Joining Tam at the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final – a World Amateur Golf Ranking event – across the border early next year will be Michelle Liu Lok-in (Girls’ Under-16 winner), Isaac Lam (Boys’ Under-16 winner) and Ng Hon-lam, who edged Leung Hong-yee on a countback in the Boys’ Under-21 category.
The Faldo Series Hong Kong Golf Championship was played in conjunction with the 2014 Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Junior Open presented by now TV.
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 Tseng Ya-ni and Rory McIlroy, who captured his third Major crown at last month’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake.