RAI RESISTS MATT FINISH
AARON RAI held off a final-day charge from fellow Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick to win the Hong Kong Open, his maiden European Tour title.
He saw his six-shot overnight lead whittled down to one but held on.
Fitzpatrick (below) sunk seven birdies in his first seven holes to turn up the heat on Rai, but a bogey at the 17th gave the leader breathing space.
Rai, who never surrendered the lead, bogeyed the last for a closing 67 to finish on 17 under.
“It’s incredible to win on any Tour, let alone the European Tour,” he said.
“Matt played incredibly well but I just tried to play the course.”
Fitzpatrick’s brilliant 64 saw him finish second on 16 under, with France’s Victor Perez and Jason Scrivener of Australia sharing third place on 11 under.