Australian Wade Ormsby won the US$1 million Hong Kong Open for the second occasion when he cruised to victory with a closing four-under-par 66 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Unlike his first win at the Hong Kong Open in 2017 where he won by a single shot, Ormsby enjoyed a more comfortable success this time, finishing victory four shots clear of reigning Open champion Shane Lowry, the runner-up.
Wade Ormsby claimed his second Hong Kong Open title. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Hong Kong teenager Alexander Yang continued to show his talent. The 17-year-old closed with a two-under 68 to finish the tournament at seven-under-par in a share of 13th place in what was his first Hong Kong Open. His stellar performance saw him win both the Hong Kong Golf Club Trophy for the top placed Hong Kong player as well as the Sir David Trench Cup for the low amateur.
Terrence Ng (74), Leon D’Souza (76) and Motin Yeung (72) finished 55th, 59th and 65th respectively. All three local players will take confidence from their performances, making the cut.
“It’s been a really wonderful week of world-class golf, which was capped off in brilliant style by Wade Ormsby claiming his second victory here at Fanling,” said William Doo Jr, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“The performance of our four Hong Kong players in making the cut and really competing over the weekend was another real highlight and bodes very well for the future. The success of this championship really underlines our commitment and that of the Hong Kong Golf Association to the on-going development of the game locally.”
Ormsby did not get off to the best of starts, stumbling with an opening-hole bogey. However, he recovered quickly with three consecutive birdies from the second hole before adding another on nine to take a five-shot lead at the turn.
Ormsby birdied 11 but dropped a shot on 15 before another birdie on 17 effectively confirmed his wire-to-wire victory as he closed with a winning total of 17-under-par.
Ormsby said: “I’ve been working my guts out the last 14 to 15 months trying to take my game to the next level. I was hoping to win this season but to do it in week two of the year in my first event is special and it will be one I’ll remember forever.
“I have three wins on the main Tours in my career and this is my first wire-to-wire. I’m very proud of my play this week.”
Irishman Lowry mounted a late charge, storming up the leaderboard with a 64, having started the day six shots behind Ormsby in a share of ninth place.
“I’m very happy with myself. Fair play to Wade, he’s run away with it and didn’t really give us a chance. I did as much as I could – 64 around here is a pretty good score in these conditions,” said Lowry.
Gunn Charoenkul posted a 69 to take third place while his fellow-Thai and 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond carded a 68 to take outright fourth place ahead of American Tony Finau, who finished fifth after a 67.
Hosted by the Hong Kong Golf Club, the Hong Kong Open is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Hong Kong Golf Association and organised by the European Tour.
The Hong Kong Open will return to Hong Kong Golf Club for the 62nd edition of the tournament in November.
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