8 February 2026
The Faldo Series made its long-awaited return to Indonesia after an absence of more than 5 years, and William Justin Wijaya made sure the comeback counted. The 16-year-old from East Java claimed both the Boys 16 & Under title and the Overall Championship at Gunung Geulis Country Club, finishing at even par across 54 holes in an event that marked the country’s re-entry into the Faldo Series circuit.
Hosted by Gunung Geulis Country Club and presented by BIRDIE BANDITS, the three-day tournament from 6–8 February drew 61 players across the Faldo Junior Tour and Faldo Futures divisions. For many, it represented the first opportunity in years to compete in a globally recognised junior series on home soil.
Wijaya’s final-round 69 proved decisive in a tightly contested Boys 16 & Under division. He edged Yujun Cha of Sim’s Academy by a single stroke, posting rounds of 74-70-69 to finish at 213. The margin was narrow, the pressure real, but Wijaya held firm when it mattered most.
“The key was staying calm under pressure,” Wijaya said. “The scores were tight coming into the final holes, so obviously there were nerves. But the important putts went in today, and that made the difference.”
Cha, who fired a tournament-low 68 in the second round, pushed Wijaya to the end but couldn’t find the extra shot needed. His 214 total secured second place ahead of Fadhlan Azzam Atmajah.
In the Boys 21 & Under division, Kifata Aftar of North Sumatra held off a late charge from national team player Kenneth Henson Sutianto to win by a single stroke. Aftar finished at three over par with rounds of 74-70-72, maintaining composure through a final day that saw momentum shift multiple times.
Kenneth led through the opening seven holes of the final round before a double bogey and bogey on the last two holes of the front nine shifted the advantage back to Kifata. The 18-year-old steadied himself on the back nine, playing controlled golf to close out the win at 216, one shot clear of Kenneth’s 217.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboard at all today,” Kifata admitted. “I just played my game, stayed patient, didn’t force birdies. When I finished and saw the result, I was genuinely surprised.”
National team player Sania Talita Wahyudi of Maja Golf Club dominated the Girls 21 & Under division despite a challenging final round. Heavy rain overnight made conditions tougher on the final day, but Sania’s eight-shot cushion from earlier rounds proved insurmountable. She finished at five over par with a total of 218, well clear of runner-up Renoctoviana Ramadhiani Said of Jakarta.
“The conditions today were harder than the first two days because of the rain,” Sania explained. “I had some trouble out there, but fortunately, my lead was big enough. I’m really happy to win here and earn the chance to compete in Vietnam.”
In the Girls 16 & Under category, Elevania Nurfasha of West Java secured victory at 20 over par, finishing 13 shots ahead of Freya Julia Daviana Simarmata of North Sumatra.
The Faldo Futures division, contested over two rounds of nine holes, produced six champions across three age groups. Dyllan Michio Satriobudi of BIRDIE BANDITS won the Boys 11-12 category at four over par, ahead of Muhammad Bintang Maulana. Bradley Tanady, also of BIRDIE BANDITS, claimed the Boys 9-10 title at 14 over, with Harith Iman Hazrul Imran of Malaysia Civil Service Golf Club finishing second. Hiro Isaac Sung of BIRDIE BANDITS took the Boys 7-8 division, with clubmate Panji Wajendra Prasojo in second.
Cheng Guo of BIRDIE BANDITS won the Girls 11-12 category at ten over, ahead of Josephine Johanna Sugandhi. The standout Futures performance came from nine-year-old Amira Adja Khairunnisa Permadi of BIRDIE BANDITS, who returned from the Asian Junior Masters in Thailand and promptly went four under par to win the Girls 9-10 division by a commanding margin over Aliya Putri Silvinia.
“I just got back from Thailand, so I’m happy I could still play well here,” Amira said. “The distance was shorter for me, so I could attack more. I made some good birdies today.”
In the Girls 7-8 division, twins Rayna and Riley Rachmat finished first and second, respectively, with Rayna claiming the title at 48 over par.
Junior Tour category winners earn invitations to the 17th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam from 22–24 April 2026. Futures winners will compete at the Faldo Futures Final at The Belfry in the UK in August, held alongside the Husqvarna British Masters.
The event marked the first year of a three-year commitment by Gunung Geulis Country Club to host the Faldo Series in Indonesia. BIRDIE BANDITS, a junior golf club founded by Gunung Geulis in mid-2025, served as the presenting sponsor and organised the tournament as part of its mission to develop junior golf pathways in the country.
“This tournament was about bringing international junior golf back to Indonesia,” said Agung Budiman, Chairman of BIRDIE BANDITS and President Director of Gunung Geulis Country Club. “It’s been absent for too long. We’ve committed to hosting this for three years, and we’re happy with how the first edition went. There’s a lot to learn, but this is just the beginning.”
With 61 players, competitive fields across all divisions, and direct qualification routes to regional and international finals, the return of the Faldo Series to Indonesia signals renewed opportunity for the country’s junior golfers—and a foundation worth building on.
Faldo Futures Winners
