ON THE ASIAN TO UR
Brilliant Belgium claims historic win
homas Pieters and Thomas Detry
lifted the fi rst title for Belgium after
cruising to a three-shot victory while
Korea emerged as the best-placed
Asian team in tied-sixth position at the ISPS
HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf on
Sunday.
Childhood friends Pieters and Detry, who
started the day with a fi ve-shot advantage,
continued their formidable partnership as
they closed with a four-under-par 68 in the
fi nal round foursomes to cap a winning total
of 23-under-par 265 at The Metropolitan Golf
Club.
The talented duo fended off fast-charging
Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith of host
nation Australia, who carded a second straight
65 to share second place with Mexicans
Abraham Ancer and Roberto Diaz, who fi red
three birdies in their closing fi ve holes for a
commendable 66.
Korean talents Byeonghun An and Siwoo
Kim settled six shots back of Team Belgium
following a battling 70 while India’s Anirban
Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar matched the
day’s efforts of Team Korea to settle for a
share of 10th place at the prestigious US$7
million event.
Team China’s Li Haotong and Wu Ashun
closed with a 67 to take 13th place on 277
while Thai duo Kiradech Aphibarnrat and
Team Belgium of Thomas Detry (left) and Thomas Pieters (right)
Green slipped to 22nd place following a
disappointing 74 while Hideto Tanihara and
Satoshi Kodaira took 23rd place for Japan
after posting a 72.
Prom Meesawat marked their best round of
the week with a 66 to fi nish a further shot
back in tied-14th.
Malaysia’s Ben Leong and Gavin
Rai prevails to win rain-soaked Honma Hong Kong Open
This win is incredible.
It defi nitely hasn’t sunk
in just yet. Probably
need a few days for
that to happen, but it’s
incredible to win on
any tour, let alone The
European Tour and let
alone the Hong Kong
Open. It’s an incredible
course, incredible event,
very well supported.
The crowd have been
amazing. Just very
grateful.
ngland’s Aaron Rai battled through a rain-
soaked day to prevail over compatriot
Matthew Fitzpatrick by signing for a one-
under-par 69 to win the HONMA Hong
Kong Open presented by Amundi by one-shot
on Sunday. Despite holding an overnight six-
shot lead, victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club
was never going to be a straight forward affair
especially from a fast-charging Fitzpatrick, who
was determined to put a dent to Rai’s title hopes.
Fitzpatrick stormed to the turn in 31 after reeling
in three birdies including two in his opening two
holes. He cut Rai’s lead to just one with a birdie
on 16 but a costly bogey on 17 proved to be his
undoing as he allowed Rai to open a two-shot
lead heading into the fi nal hole. While Fitzpatrick
parred the 18, the comfortable two-shot advantage
that Rai enjoyed meant he could even afford to
three-putt his closing hole for a winning total of
17-under-par 263. India’s Shubhankar Sharma
meanwhile extended his lead atop the Habitat
for Humanity Standings after signing for a 67 to
cap another commendable week by fi nishing tied
for sixth with Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Rafa
Cabrera bello.
GolfPlus
DECEMBER
2018
25