Staff WriterThe Faldo Asia Series seldom disappoints, and it certainly didn’t this week.
In fact, the championship served up a locally flavoured thriller that would have made a karaoke machine blush: 15-year-old Tuan Anh Nguyen survived a three-shot swing down the stretch and walked away with the trophy, the applause of a nation and—who knows—a lifetime supply of bánh mì.
A back-nine worthy of popcorn
The Ho Chi Minh City youngster began Friday with the swagger of someone who still needs parental permission to stay out after dark, yet he carded rounds of 65-70-70 (-8)—the only player to beat par every day.
South Korea’s Jaemin Park stormed up the leaderboard like a caffeinated caddie, but Tuan Anh’s nerve held at the 18th: a clutch up-and-down birdie that sent the gallery into selfie mode.
“I just tried to stay calm and focused,” said Tuan Anh. “It’s a special feeling to win such a big event, especially in Vietnam. This gives me a lot of belief going forward.”
With that, he became the third straight Vietnamese champion (following Nguyen Duc Son in 2024 and Nguyen Anh Minh in 2023) and extended the host nation’s hot streak at the Faldo Asia Grand Final.
Why Vietnam suddenly looks like junior golf’s Silicon Valley
- Three winners in three years: momentum you can measure.
- Laguna Golf Lang Co has hosted the finale since 2017, transforming from coastal playground to talent incubator.
- Grass-roots support from the Vietnam Golf Association and Vietnam Golf Coast keeps pipelines pumping.
Matthew Faldo, who carries the surname and the microphone, put it succinctly:
“It’s been a tremendous week of golf,” said Matthew Faldo, Director of the Faldo Series. “How these young players have conducted themselves—both on and off the course—has been magnificent. And they’ve handled a very tricky, championship-standard layout with great maturity and skill.”
Translation: the kids are all right, and the tees were definitely all the way back.
Global field, local fireworks
Sixty rising stars from a dozen nations teed it up. Highlights:
| Category | Champion | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Overall & Boys U-18 | Tuan Anh Nguyen | Vietnam |
| Girls U-21 | Rinka Yasuda | Japan |
| Boys U-16 | Jaydon Pang | Singapore |
Course credibility
Laguna Golf Lang Co is a Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design—golf-speak for “bring a hard hat.”
It plays fast, firm and photogenic, hugging rice paddies and sea. Perfect for separating contenders from pretenders and for producing Instagram stories that require no filter.
The bigger picture: Southeast Asia’s golf boom
With corporate partners, junior academies and a population that never met a smartphone it didn’t like, the region’s fairways are filling. Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co, sees a tailwind:
“This week has reinforced our commitment to junior golf in Asia,” added Stephen Banks. “To see a Vietnamese champion crowned here at our course is a proud moment. The future of golf in Vietnam is full of promise.”
Promise? It’s already paying dividends. The Faldo Asia Grand Final has become a showcase for Vietnam’s next wave, and if Tuan Anh continues his trajectory, the only thing scarier than his short game will be his high-school algebra homework.
What’s next for the champion?
A spot in the Faldo Series European Grand Final awaits, not to mention a passport that’s about to get a workout.
For now, Tuan Anh returns to class on Monday with a trophy bigger than his backpack and a story that will outshine every “What I did at the weekend” essay in the room.
