Ormsby Seals Thrilling Victory at UBS Hong Kong Open 2017

Leon D’Souza claims top placed amateur trophy with even-par score

HONG KONG, 26 November 2017, (HK Golfer News Wire) - Wade Ormsby prevailed from a dramatic final day in Fanling to claim his first European Tour title at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The Australian entered the fourth round a shot behind SSP Chawrasia and when he turned in level-par 34, he was four behind his Indian rival.

But Chawrasia then triple-bogeyed the ninth to bring a host of players back into contention and Ormsby held a two-shot lead as he stood on the 18th fairway at Hong Kong Golf Club.

In the group behind, Rafa Cabrera Bello birdied the 17th to pile on the pressure and a closing three-putt bogey from Ormsby left the duo in a tie at 11 under.

Cabrera Bello then put his second shot in the bunker at the front of the final green and when he failed to get up and down, the title was Ormsby's.

Alexander Björk, Paul Peterson and Julian Suri finished alongside Cabrera Bello at ten under, a shot clear of Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood who got the defence of his title off to a good start. Olympic champion Justin Rose and Masters champion Sergio Garcia finished in tied tenth and 19th respectively.

Ormsby played his first season on the European Tour in 2004 after coming through the Qualifying School and he has done that four times since in a career that has also seen him struggle with injury at times.

A fifth-place finish at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation ensured he eventually kept his card in comfortable fashion two minths ago and he will now have an exemption until 2020 after winning at the 264th time of asking.

The Australian’s thrilling win will also see him make a huge leap of 201 places in the Official World Golf Ranking, from 319th to 118th.

Arnold Wong, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, said “We’ve enjoyed four days of first class golf here at the Hong Kong Golf Club. Congratulations to Wade on a well-deserved victory, and also to the Hong Kong amateur, Leon D' Souza who has played well all week, not least his five-under par third round score. I am sure his performance will encourage more local young players to take up the game of golf. Last year, we welcomed over 46,000 spectators to the Hong Kong Golf Club, and I am sure this year we will break that record. We look forward to welcoming both players back to the Hong Kong Golf Club in 2018 for the 60th edition of the tournament.”