Angkor Golf driving development

Wed, 10 July 2013

HS Manjunath

The award-winning Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap is well known as one of Sir Nick Faldo’s classy designs.
It is also the home of the six-time Major winner’s annual grassroots development initiatiative Faldo Series, the second edition of which concluded two weeks ago.
If the present director of golf at AGR, David Baron, carries out his own master plan for the development of the game, the resort could well house a purpose-built international golf academy in the near future. What is driving Baron is the passion he shares with the resort in promoting golf through junior initiatives.
“As a member of the PGA I am happy to be a part of this and willing to give my time and use of the AGR facilities to enthusiastic kids who want to learn,” Baron, who is from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, told the Post in an exclusive chat yesterday.

David Baron holds a coaching session for local children at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap. PHOTO SUPPLIED

With a wealth of experience both as a PGA professional and top level management executive behind him, Baron, who has extensively coached juniors in Hong Kong and China, is setting out to help Cambodian youngsters who are keen on developing their golf skills,
“I taught hundreds of junior golfers at the prestigious Hong Kong Golf Club. However, golf is more mainstream and accessible to kids in HK with a strong golf association backing,” the AGR director of golf pointed out.

Another well-structured golf body Baron had worked with was in China, where he opened a PGA-endorsed academy as the first Jack Nicklaus-branded academy.
The first phase of his long-term plan is already in motion. He has been spending his time in imparting basic golf lessons at the AGR to students from several Siem Reap schools to spread the game’s appeal among the youth.

In the weeks and months to come, Baron hopes to organise regular golf clinics and nine-hole tournaments in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh to follow up on the splendid efforts being made by former Australian amateur team captain Roger Hunt, who has been serving the Cambodian Golf Federation as an adviser for the past five years in a purely voluntary capacity.

Baron considers support from other clubs and the CGF vital to the success of his mission. Using golf, Baron is also helping a major health initiative by partnering with Cambodian Diabetes Association, encouraging the local NGO to bring kids to the resort for educational classes on the dangers, causes and prevention of diabetes.

A free golf clinic will be conducted for the benefit of these children with an emphasis on fitness. The leader of the NGO, Lorraine Fraser King, is fully supportive of this partnership.

Moir wins Angkor Amateur Open
Mon, 5 August 2013, HS Manjunath

It was 12 years ago that Michael Moir beat the freezing cold to win the Scottish Boys Golf Championship at his home town course of Royal Aberdeen.
At the Sir Nick Faldo-designed Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap yesterday, the Scot, now a proud owner of Bangkok-based sports-apparel brand Fenix, relived that teenage triumph in parts to grab top honours in the Angkor Amateur Open after a suspense-filled final round.

Scotland’s Michael Moir won the 2013 Angkor Amateur Open yesterday at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap by a single stroke over runner-up Ly Hong of Cambodia. PHOTO SUPPLIED

He had six layers of clothing when he made that piece of history as a teenager in sub-zero conditions. But on a hot, windless day in the city famous for Angkorian-era temples, he could have done with a bare minimum.
“Sure of that” Moir coyly told the Post in a clubhouse conversation after his two round gross 148 was good enough to edge out last year’s winner Cambodia’s Ly Hong, who was agonisingly one behind at 149.

The left-handed Ly Hong, who had carried the Kingdom’s aspirations both at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, found the drink instead of the fairway on the 18th and with it drowned his chances of forcing a possible play-off. The Scotsman came away safe and sound, though his second round five-over par was a pale shadow of his brilliant first round 71, which in fact matched an identical round by guest professional Scott Hend.

Australian Hend, who is indisputably the longest hitter on the Asian Tour, marked his inspirational presence with a second round 69 for a regal four under 140. The bar was so high that the Beat the Pro challenge, which carried some lucrative offers for the novices, was never quite on.
“This is my first visit to Cambodia. I like the course. Driving from the black tees makes a huge difference and I really enjoyed my golf and the hospitality,” Hend, who has made Flordia his home for the past 10 years, told the Post.

The fifth edition of this growingly popular amateur event will be long remembered for a happy coincidence of an Australian pro and a Scottish amateur raising its profile and polishing its image.
Hend was the first pro to wear Moir’s Fenix brand, which indeed sponsored the Australian in Siem Reap this year. In the end, it turned out to be a win-win for both Hend, who arrived from Russia two days before the event and Moir, whose father is a long time resident of Phnom Penh.
“I missed last year’s event, [so] I am happy to be here winning this year,” said Moir, who had a word of praise for some of the Cambodian golfers he played with.“I think some of the Cambodian players like Ly Hong are really good. The country needs some time to develop.”

While three past winners, Tim Orgill, Don Bland and Ly Hong lined up this year, the fourth, Stuart Puzzey could not make it.Despite that disappointment of losing out on the title, Ly Hong had his own rewarding moment when he was declared the winner of Division 1 on the basis of his net 139 ahead of Australia’s Mark Penfold, who also recorded the same total but was relegated to second on the count-back system.

With a net 142, Rahoul won Division 2 ahead of the 144 posted by Thong Sokhamony, who was Cambodia’s lone entry in the recently held Faldo Series event at the same venue.
Ros Sarin (net 141) came out on top in Division 3 ahead of Chua Meng Ann (144).

Karen Buenaventura of the Philippines was too good for her only rival for the women’s title, Rosemarie Gale of Australia. The Filipino posted an impressive two-round net of 143 to Gale’s 182.

“This year we set three new records,” said AGR Director of Golf David Baron.
“We had the largest number of entries ever – well over 100. We had the largest number of nationalities represented at 14 and we had the largest number of repeat guests.”

THAI TEENAGER TAKES FALDO SERIES TITLE IN CAMBODIA WINNERS ALSO HAIL FROM MALAYSIA AND HONG KONG

1 July 2013: Watcharasit Trachuentong from Thailand claimed a narrow victory in the second Faldo Series Cambodia Championship at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap.  The 17-year-old was one of two Thais to qualify for the Asia Grand Final in China along with winners from Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Watcharasi-Trachuentong---Boy-U21-and-Overall-Winner

Trachuentong (Boys’ Under-21) fired rounds of 72 and 73 on the Faldo Design course in Siem Reap to finish tied on one over par with overnight-leader Aaerishna Shahsthy (Boys’ Under-16) of Malaysia.  As age-group winners, both players will join Sir Nick Faldo for the eighth Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen but it was the Thai teenager who claimed the overall trophy thanks to a stronger final round.

The girls’ division also went to a count-back with 16-year-old Andrea Au from Hong Kong edging Thailand’s Onkanok Soisuwan, 12, to the win.  However both girls also qualify for the World Amateur Golf Ranking event at Mission Hills next March.

The second Faldo Series Cambodia Championship featured a range of nationalities from Cambodian to Indonesian to five players from New Zealand.  In a bid to grow golf in the local community, the tournament also involved school-children from Siem Reap who enjoyed a free coaching clinic before watching the competitors in action. 

Leading final scores: Boys’ Under-21: 145 – Watcharasit Trachuentong (THA) 72-73; 146 – Poovadol Leeartharn (THA) 73-73.  Boys’ Under-16: 145 – Aaerishna Shahsthy (MAL) 71-74; 147 – Thanaphum Khanchitworakun (THA) 75-72.  Girls’ Under-21: 151 – Andrea Au (HKG) 75-76, Onkanok Soisuwan (THA) 75-76; 165 – Pinkaew Trachuentong (THA) 85-80.

 

FALDO SERIES RETURNS TO CAMBODIA

ANGKOR GOLF RESORT IN SIEM REAP TO HOST 2013 EVENT

10 May 2013: Sir Nick Faldo has announced that his global golf development programme will return to Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap in 2013.  Golfers from across the region will compete for a spot in the Asia Grand Final when the second Faldo Series Cambodia Championship tees off on June 29-30.  

“We hope to build on the success of our inaugural event at Angkor Golf Resort and benefit more young golfers from Cambodia and neighbouring countries,” said Faldo, who designed the course in Siem Reap and is currently overseeing another 36-hole project in the capital Phnom Penh.  “Holic and his team put on a great event in 2012 that combined top-class tournament experience for talented golfers with unique grass-roots activities for kids from the local community.”

Kim Dong-Hyun of South Korea, winner of the 2012 Faldo Series Cambodia Championship, in action during the Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China in March 2013.

“We enjoy our close relationship with Sir Nick and we share his passion for growing the game,” added Holic Tandijono, Executive Director of Angkor Golf Resort.  “Once again we welcome the region’s top players to the historic town of Siem Reap.  We will also continue to develop our grass-roots programme with local schools.”

International and local golfers alike will challenge for the 2013 Cambodia Championship, won last year by 17-year-old Kim Dong-Hyun from South Korea.  Boys and girls aged 12 to 21 will compete over 36 holes on the award-winning Faldo Design course, an Asian Tour venue located close to the world-famous Angkor Wat temples.

With the field divided into age-groups – two for boys and two for girls – the four winners will qualify for the eighth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.  This World Amateur Golf Ranking event will be hosted by the six-time Major Champion at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March.

Established in 1996, 40 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 30 countries worldwide with more than 7,000 golfers participating each year.  Past winners include Major Champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

In September 2013, Faldo will begin taking students at a full-time residential academy for education and golf development in America.  The first ever Faldo Series Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona is also home to the Faldo Series USA and marks the next significant step in the programme’s history.

The 2013/2014 Faldo Series Asia schedule features a record 19 tournaments in 15 countries, including four in mainland China, two in India and others in The Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand.

The Faldo Series Asia is supported by The R&A, ISPS Handa and Mission Hills.  It is endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation.Golfers born in 1992 or later wishing to enter the second Faldo Series Cambodia Championship on June 29-30 can email info@angkor-golf.com or visit www.angkor-golf.com. 

For more information on the Faldo Series visit www.nickfaldo.com.  You can also follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries  and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/faldoseries.

For media enquiries, please contact Tom Phillips on +852 2819 3364 (Hong Kong) or email tphillips@nickfaldo.com.

 

Liberty Cup 2013

Monday, 1 April 2013

Malaysia ‘s pioneering golf travel agency, Liberty Golf Services, had organised its own tournament series with its inaugural leg in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 28^th till 31^st March 2013. Teaming up with the local renowned golf operator, PSD Travel, the event proved to be a success.

Branded as Liberty Cup™, this event was held at the prestigious Angkor Golf Resort, a FALDO design course where it hosted 40 golfers from Malaysia, Cambodia, France and Australia. 
Despite the soaring heat, the players battled it out for the 2 day tournament on a System 36 format. The players were also taken to visit the Angkor Wat temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 

Winner, Alex Yap Chung Chai receiving trophy from Eu Shen NG, GM of Liberty Golf Services

Malaysia ‘s pioneering golf travel agency, Liberty Golf Services, had organised its own tournament series with its inaugural leg in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 28^th till 31^st March 2013. Teaming up with the local renowned golf operator, PSD Travel, the event proved to be a success.

Branded as Liberty Cup™, this event was held at the prestigious Angkor Golf Resort, a FALDO design course where it hosted 40 golfers from Malaysia, Cambodia, France and Australia. Despite the soaring heat, the players battled it out for the 2 day tournament on a System 36 format. The players were also taken to visit the Angkor Wat temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The organiser’s general manager, Mr Ng Eu Shen said “We’re happy with the turnout of the group size despite it being marred by the speculation of date-clashing with Malaysia’s 13^th General Election. 

We were able to showcase our expertise in managing golf tournaments abroad fused with good course selection, impeccable hospitality, ground logistics, F&B and local culture – precisely what golf travellers are looking for”. 

 

Official timekeeper & sponsor Titoni, represented by Mr Tham Onn Chuan who is the CEO of ATG Watch said “I’m so amazed with the level of maintenance by Angkor Golf Resort. From tee to green, it played to great championship standards”. Another sponsor who played in the tournament, Mr Toh Hock (President of Shuzi Asia), was very impressed with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) feature that was added to the tournament. “I’m glad to be part of this tournament series. Not only having played in a magnificent golf course like Angkor Golf Resort but also to do charitable cause to local Treak Village – located just 20 minutes from town centre”. 

A charity shootout in the form of a 25 yard chipping contest (Nearest to Pin) was carried out by ConCERT – a non profit enterprise involved in community development for orphanages, day centres, schools, agriculture cultivation, vocational training and health + hygiene. Andrew Ng of Golf Malaysia publication won the contest by flopping the ball onto the island green and into the hole.

The tournament concluded with Mr Alex Yap Chung Chai being the crowned champion of the Cambodia Leg. The 6 handicapper who shot 78 points over 2 days will be hosted to defend his title Siem Reap golf course in 2014, courtesy of Liberty Golf Services. 

    

Liberty Golf Services would like to thank all golfers and especially the sponsors to have supported the event: Transview Golf, Carlsberg Malaysia, Titoni, Shuzi, JNG Golf, AK Wines, Angkor Golf Resort, PSD Travel, Angkor Riviera Hotel, Sokha Hotel, Tropical Massage, ConCERT, ParGolf, Golf Malaysia and mygolf.com.my

Photos available at our Facebook page (acc: Angkor Golf Resort)