Monsalve earns Faldo Series title

MANILA, Philippines - Marvi Monsalve fought through an up-and-down final round of two-over-par 74 that was enough to give her the title in the Girls Under-21 category over Isabelle Leung of Hong Kong and Wang Zi-yi of China in the seventh Asia Grand Final of the Faldo Series at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China.

Though she trailed by six after the first day, the 18-year-old Monsalve scored a one-under-par 71 for a share of the lead on the next.  On the last day, she made seven bogeys as against five birdies, with the last one on the 18th to salvage that 74 and 222 total.  

Leung rallied with a 71 in the final round to settle for a runner-up finish with 224 while Wang finished third with a 226 after a 74.

“I feel happy and blessed to win in a big stage like the Faldo Series.  All the hard work I put in to hone my game is paying off,” said Monsalve, who was personally awarded her trophy by six-time Major champion Nick Faldo. 

With it, the top junior golfer became the first Filipina to win in the Faldo Series which featured 83 golfers from 17 countries, including the Philippines, the largest field for an Asia Grand Final in seven seasons. Also in the fold were Lawrence Celestino (boys under-21) and Clare Legaspi (girls under-16).

Also, she’ll represent the country in the 2013 Europe Grand Final alongside other winners Luo Xue-wen of China (girls under-14), Cheng Ssu-chi of Chinese Taipei (girls under-16), Fami Reza of Indonesia (boys under-21), and Ewan Scott of Scotland (boys under-18).