HONG KONG, September 19, 2014 (HK Golfer News Wire) - 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.
Results
215 - Michael Regan Wong (HKG) 72 74 69
216 – Isaac Lam (HKG) 71 76 69
220 – Shinichi Mizuno (HKG) 74 72 74
221 – Ho Yu Cheng (TPE) 72 72 77
222 – Oliver Roberts (HKG) 75 74 73
223 – Leon Philip D'Souza (HKG) 79 70 74
224 – Steven Lam (HKG) 76 74 74
225 – Jack Tsai (TPE) 78 74 73
226 – Douglas Williams (HKG) 79 74 73
228 – Stuart Murray (HKG) 80 74 74