Kenny Leseur has qualified for next year’s Faldo World Series Asia Grand Final after securing age group honours competing in the global series in Florida this week.

The amateur golfer won the under-16 boys’ title at the Faldo Series US Grand Final at the El Campeon Championship Course at the Mission Inn Resort and Club.

Leseur led from start to finish to complete the 54-hole event with a one-under-par 215, which left him 19 shots clear of nearest rival Felix Feres Mahbub, of Mexico.

“El Campeon is a very tough course and is host to US Open qualifiers and collegiate tournaments,” Leseur said. “I was lucky enough last year to have played that course many times and I know where to miss it.

“I started off the tournament well with an opening 69, which included seven birdies and only a couple of blemishes.

“The second round was a bit harder with more wind and tougher pin placements. Again, I played well and rolled in a few more putts for birdie but hit a bad drive on 18 that ended up in the water.

“The last day I went out with a relaxed mindset and just stayed cautious off the tee and shot 73, which was good enough for a big margin of victory.”

Leseur was presented with his trophy during the award ceremony by England’s Nick Faldo, a three-times winner of the British Open and Masters and former world No 1.

“It was great meeting a guy with such great achievements,” said Leseur, who attends the International Junior Golf Academy in Florida.

The championship is a partnership between the International Junior Golf Tour and the Faldo Series, which affords North American golfers with an opportunity to compete with some of the world’s elite players.

The Faldo Series hosts 35 annual tournaments in 30 countries worldwide.

The winners in Florida among the under-18 and under-16 boys’ and girls’ division all received invitations to compete at the Faldo World Series Asia Grand Final in Vietnam in March 2020.

Leseur became the eighth youngest player to compete in a PGA Tour event at the inaugural Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course in October and November.

“Playing the tour event in Bermuda was great, said Leseur, who failed to make the cut after carding 77 and 75 in the opening two rounds.

Leseur, 15, is the youngest to play at that level since Chinese amateur Guan Tianlang competed at the 2013 Masters, Zurich Classic and HP Byron Nelson Championship as a 14-year-old.