MRW Makes It to the Open

Blemish-free final round gives Wong the title and a spot at the Hong Kong Open

Michael Regan Wong became the first local golfer to win the Hong Kong Open Amateur Championship in four years - and with it a berth in this month's Hong Kong Open – thanks to a flawless display at Discovery Bay Golf Club on 19 September.

Wong, 17, fired a bogey-free final-round 69 to finish on a three-day total of 215 (two-over-par) to edge fellow national squad member and close friend Isaac Lam, 15, by a single shot. Shinichi Mizuno, arguably the pre-tournament favourite following a consistent run of form in recent months, placed third, a further four shots back.

"I had two goals this year - to finish in the top 30 at the World Juniors and to qualify for the Hong Kong Open. I wasn't able to do the first but it feels great to have achieved the second," said Wong, who got up and down from a tricky position at the final hole to land his biggest ever win.

The South Island School student, who is aiming for a college place in the United States next September, started the round two shots behind overnight leader Ho Yu-cheng of Chinese Taipei. But as Ho struggled, both Wong and Lam shone, with the latter holding a one-stroke advantage going into the penultimate hole. A Wong par at the difficult 17th, a hole Lam bogeyed, tied things up and a disappointing three-putt at the last by the younger player gifted victory to Wong, who followed in the footsteps of 2010 champion Liu Lok-tin, the last Hong Kong winner of the national amateur title.

Chinese Taipei's Jack Tsai scooped the Mid Amateur Championship prize, the over-25 competition that was played concurrently with the main event, with a total of 225, one shot ahead of Hong Kong’s Doug Williams and three ahead of both Stuart Murray and Michael Stott.

Final Overall Standings

1 Michael Regan Wong (HKG) 72 74 69 215
2 Isaac Lam (HKG) 71 76 69 216
3 Shinichi Mizuno (HKG) 74 72 74 220
4 Ho Yu Cheng (TPE) 72 72 77 221
5 Oliver Roberts (HKG) 75 74 73 222
6 Leon Philip D'Souza (HKG) 79 70 74 223
7 Steven Lam (HKG) 76 74 74 224
8 Jack Tsai (TPE) 78 74 73 225
9 Doug Williams (HKG) 79 74 73 226
10= Stuart Murray (HKG) 80 74 74 228
Michael Stott (HKG) 74 76 78 228

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