Kathmandu, September 12

Faldo Series Nepal Championship is beginning here at the Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday.

A total of 25 players, including one each from India, Italy and the United Arab Emirates, will compete in the tournament organised by Gokarna Forest Resort under the auspices of Nepal Golf Association.

The tournament features three categories — boys’ 12-16yrs, boys’ 17-21yrs and girls. Six golfers each will compete in boys’ 17-21yrs and girls’ categories, while 13 players will vie for the crown in the boys’ 12-16yrs section, informed the organizers in a release today.

The winners in all the three categories after the 54-hole contest will earn berths in the 11th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final slated for March next year at the Laguna Lang Co in Danang, Vietnam.

In the boys’ 17-21 category, Sukra Bahadur Rai and Raju Diwakar are expected to have a fierce battle, while the boys’ 12-16yrs section defending champion Tenzing Tshiring is a top contender along with Dubai-based Indian junior golfer Aaryan Kumar and Luca from Italy.

Likewise, local favourite Pratima Sherpa and young talent Devasri Rana will fight it out for Mission Hills tickets along with India’s Sifrat Kaur Alag.

Supported by The R&A and endorsed by Asian Tour and Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2016-17 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months.

As well as two events in China, India and Thailand, the championships will be staged in Nepal, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006.