13 Jan 2020 | Professional golf |

Ormsby gives Australia first win of 2020

by Martin Blake

Australia has its first tournament winner of 2020, with Adelaide’s Wade Ormsby taking out the Hong Kong Open for the second time when he cruised to victory by closing with a four-under-par 66 at the Hong Kong Golf Club on Sunday.

Unlike his first win at the Hong Kong Open in 2017 where he won by a single shot, 39-year-old Ormsby enjoyed a more comfortable victory as he triumphed by four shots over major champion Shane Lowry of Ireland.

He was greeted at the 18th green by longtime European Tour compatriot and friend Marcus Fraser with a theatrical gesture, Fraser presenting Ormsby and his caddie two cold beers on a tray.

The Australian did not get off to the best of starts when he stumbled with an opening bogey. However, he recovered quickly with three consecutive birdies from the second hole before adding another on nine to take a five-shot lead at the turn then.

Ormsby birdied 11 but dropped another shot on 15 before another birdie on 17 effectively confirmed his wire-to-wire victory as he closed with a winning total of 17-under-par.

Lowry surmounted a late charge by storming up the leaderboard with a 64, having started the day six shots back of Ormsby in a share of ninth place. However, his gallant efforts were not enough to catch the Australian and he had to settle for second place.

It is Ormsby’s third win on a major tour, and the first time he has gone wire-to-wire. “I’ve been working my guts out the last 14 to 15 months trying to take my game to the next level,” he said. “And like I just said, Australian PGA three weeks ago, losing that one really hurt me so I’ll put a few changes in place.

"I worked out over the break and to come back here and get the win so soon, can’t put it into words really. It’s still nerve-racking coming down the stretch you know, like that 18th hole, it can do anything to you but I got the tee-shot in play and hit a weak iron shot into it but anyway. Four on the card and won by four, so I’m very happy.”

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