Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Birdie wins it for Brazel
AUSTRALIAN Sam Brazel birdied the last to claim a dramatic one-shot victory at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
The 37-year-old had entered the final day at Hong Kong Golf Club in a share of the l ead with Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera-Bello but the duo dropped shots on the front nine, setting the scene for an exciting finish.
Masters winner Danny Willett had come i nto round f our six shots behind but five birdies meant he held the lead on the final afternoon before a bogey on the 17th.
That dropped shot left six players in a tie for top spot but a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th got Brazel to 12 under and, when Cabrera-Bello birdied the 16th and 17th to join him, it was all set to come down the last.
The Spaniard is used to playing under pressure, winning 2.5 points from three matches for Europe at Hazeltine National earlier this year. However, it was world No 480 Brazel who kept his cool, putting his approach to eight feet to make just the second birdie of the day on the closing hole and get to 13 under.
“I was very lucky,” he said. “That wasn’t t he greatest second shot in there but it ended up good and the rest is history.
“It was a thrill to be out there the last few days. I hope that continues. It’s been a long time coming.”
Cabrera-Bello parred the last to finish second at 12 under, a shot ahead of E n g l a n d ’s To m m y Fleetwood and Australian Andrew Dodt.
American David Lipsky was the other player to have held the lead on the final day and he finished at 10 under, one shot in front of Willett.