15 March 2013, SHENZHEN, China (HK Golfer News Wire) - "Our first Chinese Champion is a historic moment and important for golf," said Sir Nick Faldo. "We celebrated Guan Tianlang’s trip to Augusta earlier this week and then saw Xue-Wen beat a record field. In the world’s effort to grow golf, I’m proud of the week we spent with golfers from 17 different countries and really enjoyed the spirit these kids brought to Mission Hills."
"I am very proud to be the first winner from my country," said 16-year-old Luo from Haikou in Hainan. “This week has been a very special experience and I have really enjoyed learning from Sir Nick Faldo."
Luo fired a three-under-par round of 69 to finish on seven under par, one ahead of Girls’ Champion Cheng Ssu-Chi, 15, from Chinese Taipei. Both players qualify for the 2013 Europe Grand Final along with Boys’ Under-21 winner Fahmi Reza of Indonesia, Scotland’s Ewan Scott (Boys’ Under-18) and Marvi Monsalve (Girls’ Under-21) from The Philippines.
Luo also beat 16 Faldo Series competitors to the Mission Hills Trophy, presented to the highest-placed Chinese golfer and won last year by Guangzhou’s Guan Tianlang. The 14-year-old was at Mission Hills earlier in the week to receive a Special Achievement Award from Faldo and spend time with the three-time Masters winner ahead of his debut at Augusta National next month.
Leading final scores:
Boys’ Under-21:
211 – Fahmi Reza (INA) 72-70-69
217 – Shinichi Mizuno (HKG) 75-69-73, Robert Busher (ENG) 74-69-74
Boys’ Under-18:
212 – Ewan Scott (SCO) 69-72-71
214 – Joshua Gibbons (ENG) 67-74-73, Marc Ong (SIN) 66-72-76
Boys’ Under-16:
209 – Xue-Wen Luo (CHN) 72-68-69
210 – Jack Singh-Brar (ENG) 70-70-70
214 – Wo-Cheng Ye (CHN) 69-79-66
Girls’ Under-21:
222 – Marvi Monsalve (PHI) 77-71-74
224 – Isabella Leung (HKG) 76-77-71
226 – Zi-Yi Wang (CHN) 74-79-73
Girls’ Under-16:
210 – Ssu-Chia Cheng (TPE) 65-73-72
216 – Clare Legaspi (PHI) 72-72-72
218 – Yu-Hsin Chang (TPE) 72-76-70