National player Hung Jo-hua withstood a dramatic late charge from Wang Yi-han to claim victory in the opening leg of the Faldo Series Asia’s 10th anniversary season.

In a thrilling climax at Sunrise Golf and Country Club, Hung parred the final two holes to eke out a one-shot success in the Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship.

Two strokes clear of Wang heading into the final round, Hung appeared to be coasting home having extended her advantage to five with just seven holes remaining.

It was then that Wang made her move with back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13. Following a dropped shot by Hung at the par-four 15th, Wang reduced the deficit to one when she picked up her third birdie in five holes at the short 16th.

Despite her best efforts, though, Wang was only able to par 17 and 18, her scores matched by 15-year-old Hung, a Sunrise member.

Hung, who represented Chinese Taipei at last year’s Asian Games in Korea and the Women’s World Amateur Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy in Japan, signed for a closing two-over-par 74.

That gave her a 54-hole aggregate of six-over 222, one ahead of Wang whose opening 78 left her with just too much ground to make up.

Hung’s performance was a major improvement on her effort 12 months earlier when she broke 80 only once and placed seventh in the Girls’ Division.

Hung and Wang have both qualified to participate in the 2015-16 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March.

Joining them for the trip to China will be 17-year-old Chen Chieh-sheng [Boys Under-21] and 15-year-old Yang Chun-chieh [Boys’ Under-16].

While Chen led his category from start-to-finish, Yang overturned a six-stroke overnight deficit to edge out Lawrence Ting.

With nine holes to go, Yang trailed by 10. However, while Yang toured the back nine in two-under 34, Ting limped home in 45, running up a nine at the par-four 10th and an eight at the par-five 13th.

Supported by The R&A and Mission Hills and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2015-16 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and will include a minimum of 21 events in 17 countries including, for the first time, Australia.

Winners of age-group categories at each of the national championships will earn themselves places in the 10th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.

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, who took his tally of professional Major titles to four with his wins at last year’s Open Championship and US PGA Championship.

Faldo Series Chinese Taipei Championship, leading final scores: Boys’ Under-21: 229 – Chen Chieh-sheng (73-78-78). 240 – Lu Meng-heng (83-79-78). 243 – Liao Yun-jui (83-78-82). Boys’ Under 16: 228 – Yang Chun-chieh (80-74-74). 229 – Lawrence Ting (77-71-81). 239 – Lin Po-kai (79-79-81). Girls’ Under-21: 222 – Hung Jo-hua (72-76-74). 223 – Wang Yi-han (78-72-73). 228 – Chen Min-jou (75-77-76).

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Photo caption: Hung Jo-hua is congratulated on her success by Steven Wu, Vice General Manager at Sunrise Golf and Country Club.