The Faldo Junior Tour made its way up to Scotland and the iconic Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club in Edinburgh with a strong field of 47 juniors from 10 countries competing to be the Faldo Junior Tour Scotland Champion.
The historic venue has a strong connection with elite women’s golf, having hosted the Solheim Cup in 1992, making it a particularly inspiring setting for the next generation of female and junior golfers.
Among a talented field, Sabrina Wong produced an impressive performance to claim victory. Sabrina showed excellent composure and consistency throughout the event, putting together one of the best performances in the 30 years of the Faldo Series. Sabrina who plays at Cathkin Braes Golf Club, recorded scores of 67, 64 and 66 for an unbelievable total of 197, which was 22 under par. This wire to wire victory showed the true class of Wong who has a WAGR now of 171. Twenty-two birdies and two eagles across the 54-hole event was unprecedented given the tricky conditions and Wong would beat Lancaster Golf Club’s Daisy Lee by fifteen shots on the Overall Leaderboard as well as within the Girls 16 & Under division.
England International, Lee, was a further six shots ahead of the leading Boy, defending champion, Adam Scott. The Lochmaden player finished with a one under par total of 213 to win the Boys 21 & Under division. A final round of level par 73 was enough to see off Camberley Heath’s Toby Knevett in second place.
In the Boys 16 & Under division Hillside’s Lewis Forsyth would edge out Cheshire’s Jeremy Ju by a shot with a 222 total. Last years Faldo Futures Runner Up Ju, playing his first year on the Faldo Junior Tour had a difficult back nine, despite a closing birdie to finish in second place. Forsyth had also dropped shots on e back nine but had a few shots to play thanks to an impressive one under par 67 on day two on the West Course.
In the Girls 21 & Under division, Wentworth’s Jess Stofberg finished with rounds of 76, 73 and 78 to defeat Lucia Maturi by six shots.
The UK Summer Swing has produced several magical moments, and Dalmahoy was no exception. Surpassing both The Astbury and Conwy, the event featured two holes-in-one, both during Tuesday’s second round on the West Course. First, Veer Hayer holed out on the par-4 6th hole from 270 yards. Then later in the day Zac Anderson would hole his wedge shot on the 114 yard par 3 16th hole to make in 4 holes in one in 3 week on tour.
Having returned to Dalmahoy for the second time this season following the Faldo Futures Regional Final in June the setup of both the East & West Courses provided different tests for the players in blustery and very wet conditions particularly during the final round. Testament to Sabrina though for producing a truly world-class performance in Scotland a dominating the leaderboard from start to finish.
