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Asian Tour
UBS Hong Kong Open 2009
Bourdy Claims Top Honours

The honour of winning Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event went to the Frenchman after he sealed his third career victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club with a final round of three-under-par 67 for a four-day total of 19-under-par 261.

McIlroy’s late rally was not enough to make up for the heartbreak of last year and he had to settle for second place again after signing off with a 64 for a 263 total.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who was involved in a three-way play-off last year, closed with a 64 to take a share of third place with Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands on 264 while England’s Ian Poulter and France’s Raphael Jacquelin tied for fifth on 266.

Bourdy, who led the US$2.5 showpiece since the end of the second round, never seemed likely to lose his grip of the lead despite a late scare from McIlroy who moved to within a single shot of him after the 16th hole.

“I wanted to stay focused on my game, play shot by shot and I knew if I was three or four under it would be okay to win the tournament. I didn’t look at the leaderboard until the 18th so I didn’t know Rory played well,” said Bourdy who won the last of his two European Tour titles in Estoril last year.

The 27-year-old Frenchman dropped his only shot of the day on the par-three eighth but answered with four birdies on the fifth, sixth, 10th and 13th to etch his name into the roll of honour.

“It’s great. I had a fantastic week. It’s my best golf week, best golf day today. I played very consistent, missed a few putts at the start of the round but I stayed confident and it’s amazing. I needed this victory to go to Dubai as well, my girlfriend is here and everything went right. It’s fantastic,” said a delighted Bourdy.

McIlroy was left to rue a costly three-putt bogey on the 17th that derailed his chances of erasing the pain of last year where he finished in second place too.

“I knew if I had holed it, it was the only way I had any chance of winning. The grain pushed it to the left on the way by and I thought it would be the same on the way back but it just went straight,” said McIlroy.

“My goal this week was to win the UBS Hong Kong Open and I’ve come up just short again, for the second year in a row. But I gave it my best shot and that is all I can do,” added the 20-year-old.

While McIlroy had to settle for second best again at the UBS Hong Kong Open, he took consolation that he is now on top of the money list in the Race to Dubai.

“If I had birdied one of the last two holes there I might have given myself a chance so that’s the way it goes. I am a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of the Race to Dubai,” added McIlroy.

Pre-tournament favourite Lin (pictured right) who was hoping to become only the second player in the history of the event to make a successful defence of the title after compatriot Hsieh Yung-yo claimed the honours in 1963 and 1964, failed to muster a challenge as he returned with a 72 to sign off in tied-22nd place on 272.

“It’s quite disappointing to return with an over-par score today. I tried to rally a late charge but I guess a couple of wayward swings didn’t do me any favours,” said Lin.

“Anyway, there’s no point looking back and I just have to look ahead. It’s just like my mantra in life. You fall down but you just have to pick yourself up and move on,” added the five-time Asian Tour winner.

The UBS Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, having started in 1959  and will once again be sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour from November 12-15.

For further information, please contact Asian Tour’s Calvin Koh at the media centre tel: +852 2672 8467.

Leading final round scores
261 - Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 64-67-63-67
263 - Rory Mcilroy (NIR) 66-68-65-64
264 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 66-68-66-64, Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 63-68-65-68
266 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 66-68-68-64, Ian Poulter (ENG) 68-66-68-64
267 - Peter Lawrie (IRL) 66-68-66-67
268 - Simon Dyson (ENG) 68-67-67-66
269 - Scott Strange (AUS) 68-65-70-66, David Dixon (ENG) 64-69-69-67
270 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 66-65-72-67, Scott Drummond (SCO) 69-67-68-66, Mark Foster (ENG) 65-69-69-67, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 64-71-68-67, Darren Clarke (NIR) 69-67-67-67, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 65-66-71-68, Danny Chia (MAS) 67-66-68-69
271 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 65-67-71-68, David Howell (ENG) 69-66-67-69, Graeme Mcdowell (NIR) 67-68-66-70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 68-69-63-71
272 - Simon Khan (ENG) 67-70-71-64, S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 65-69-73-65, Simon Yates (SCO) 70-68-67-67, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 68-67-68-69, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 66-69-67-70, Marcus Both (AUS) 70-67-65-70, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 64-69-67-72

Selected scores
273 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 71-67-69-66, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-69-67-68, Yang Yong-eun (KOR) 66-67-69-71


From Golf Digest Singapore Dec 2009 issue

   


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