HONG KONG, Feb 12, 2013 (HK Golfer News Wire) - Wong, the champion in 2007, showed his class over the final 36 holes to finish on a four-under total of 276, a seven-stroke advantage over the fast-finishing Shinichi Mizuno (284) in second place. Seventeen-year-old Matthew Cheung Hung-hai (287) placed third, a further two shots adrift.
"This is one for the old guys," declared Hong Kong Golf Club member Wong, 38, who finished runner-up to players in their teens for three straight years between 2010 and 2012. "There are so many juniors now and they're all so good that it feels great to finally come out on top again."
Mizuno, 19, who played the last two rounds in three-under, earned the President's Medal for winning the Hong Kong Golf Association's Order of Merit.
Wong has lost 30 pounds in weight in the past six months and his improved fitness showed on a gruelling final day. Taking a slender one-shot lead over 18-year-old Terrence Ng, Wong fired a steady 71 in the morning round to build his advantage before pulling away from the field with a fine 68 in the afternoon.
"My goal was to stay bogey-free in the final round and I almost achieved it," said Wong, whose only dropped shot came at the 18th hole. "The important thing was getting the pace of the greens."
As a result of his win, Wong, who holed a four-iron at the fourth hole for an ace during his first round of 67, earns a berth into the Hong Kong Open, the territory's oldest professional sports event, which will be played in early December.
"I'm delighted with that," beamed Wong. "I can't wait to go up against the pros."
Final Results
276 Max Wong 67 70 71 68
283 Shinichi Mizuno 73 73 69 68
285 Matthew Cheung 69 70 75 71
287 Terrence Ng 67 71 73 76
289 Jackie Chan 73 68 77 71
292 Oliver Roberts 72 70 72 78
296 Leonard Ho 69 78 74 75
297 Doug Williams 75 76 73 73
298 Michael Regan Wong 75 75 77 71
300 Max Ting 75 70 83 72
Tim Orgill 71 79 78 72