Sydney, Australia (August 30): History will beckon for competitors in the second edition of the Faldo Series Australia Championship.

To take place at Sydney’s Castle Hill Country Club on December 20, the R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event will see a selection of Australia’s brightest young golfing prospects vying for glory in what will be the 18th leg of the record-breaking 2016-17 Faldo Series Asia campaign.

Winners of each of the five age-group categories will earn themselves starting spots in the 11th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam next March.

There will be no shortage of incentives for the successful quintet from the Castle Hill gathering who will have the opportunity to write their names into the record books as the first Australian winner of the Faldo Series Asia.

Furthermore, the overall boys’ winner in Vietnam will be granted an exemption into an Asian Tour event while the girls’ winner will be given a start in a Ladies European Tour event.

Both will also earn themselves trips to compete in the 2017 Faldo Series Europe Grand Final.

Six-time Major championship winner Faldo, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Australia into the Faldo Series Asia fold last season. As one of the world’s great golfing countries, I’ll be expecting a strong challenge from the Australian representatives who qualify for the Grand Final in Vietnam.

“My thanks go to officials and members at Castle Hill Country Club who have given us such tremendous support, initially to get the Faldo Series Australia Championship off the ground and now to consolidate its place on the calendar.”

Since its inception in 1950, Castle Hill Country Club has been a frequent tournament venue. As well as holding the New South Wales (NSW) Open in 2013, the club has staged two Australian PGA Championships, three NSW PGA Championships, four Canon Challenges and the 2013 Men’s and Women’s NSW Medal. 

David Geraghty, President, Castle Hill Country Club, said: “We are delighted to be partnering Sir Nick Faldo by hosting the Faldo Series Australia Championship for the second year in succession. 

“At Castle Hill Country Club we have a great interest in securing the future of our game through the development of junior golf. As such, Castle Hill Country Club members stand right behind Sir Nick in furthering his aim to ensure the viability of the game through the development of our junior champions.”

Melissa Ellis, General Manager at Castle Hill, said: “Castle Hill Country Club is thrilled to host the Faldo Series Australia Championship and to showcase our challenging course to leading Australian junior players. 

“The event promises to be very exciting and is certain to be well supported by the clubs’ members and the Sydney metropolitan community.” 

Supported by The R&A and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the 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, championships will be staged in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, 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. 

Today, 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in 30-plus countries worldwide, touching more than 7,000 golfers each year. Past winners include Tseng Ya-ni and Rory McIlroy, both multiple Major winner