Honma Hong Kong Open: Aaron Rai holds off Matt Fitzpatrick

By Press Association

09:33 · SUN November 25, 2018

Aaron Rai held off a final-day charge from fellow Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick to win his maiden European Tour title at the Hong Kong Open.

Day four report

Aaron Rai held off a final-day charge from fellow Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick to win his maiden European Tour title at the Hong Kong Open.

Rai saw his six-shot overnight lead whittled down to one and did just enough to secure a one-stroke victory at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Fitzpatrick sunk seven birdies in his first seven holes to put the pressure 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.

Fitzpatrick's brilliant 64 saw him take second on 16 under, with Victor Perez and Jason Scrivener sharing third place on 11 under.

Day three report

Aaron Rai will take a six-shot lead into the final round of the Hong Kong Open after extending his advantage on Saturday.

The Englishman is closing in on his first European Tour title after following up Friday's course-record 61 with a 68 to open up a gap between himself and compatriots Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who are both on 10 under.

However, it was not all plain sailing for Rai, who started day three with a four-shot lead but saw it cut to just one shot at the turn after South Korean Hyowon Park made a fast start.

A string of bogeys saw Park's challenge fade, though, and Rai upped his game on the back nine before finishing with a bogey.

Former Masters Champion Sergio Garcia went round in 64, which included a brilliant eagle at the par-four 10th hole, and the Spaniard is tied for fourth place alongside Jason Scrivener on nine under par.

Day two report

Aaron Rai set a new course record at the Honma Hong Kong Open by shooting a nine-under-par 61 for a four-stroke lead at the end of day two.

The 23-year-old from Wolverhampton took full advantage of perfect scoring conditions, sinking six birdies in his first nine holes, including four in a row from the 12th, and adding three more on the back nine.

Rai broke the course record at Hong Kong Golf Club by two shots as he moved to 14 under par for the two rounds.

"Again, we were lucky today with the conditions," Rai told the European Tour's official website.

"We didn't have much wind and, starting out pretty early the first nine holes, it feels like you're playing a round at home, which is nice.

"But I played very well, kept it in play, had a lot of chances and made a lot of putts, too. Everything was on song."

South Korea's Hyowon Park shot a bogey-free 62 to lie four shots behind Rai in second place and Matthew Fitzpatrick is third, two strokes further back, after he also carded a 62, making five birdies in his last eight holes.

American Micah Lauren Shin shot a 67 to move fourth on his own, seven under, while Tommy Fleetwood, Spain's Alvaro Quiros, Brazilian Adilson da Silva and Australians Jake Higginbottom, Jason Scrivener and Scott Hend are all one shot behind and tied in fifth.

Day one report

England's Aaron Rai took full advantage of a change in conditions to claim a share of the lead after the opening round of the Honma Hong Kong Open.

After India's Arjun Atwal had set the early clubhouse target with a 66 on a cool and windy morning in Fanling, calmer weather helped later starters Rai, Jason Scrivener and Yusaku Miyazato to shoot 65 and move to the top of the leaderboard.

England's Jack Singh Brar and American Micah Lauren Shin are alongside Atwal on four under, with Tommy Fleetwood one under and Sergio Garcia level par thanks to three birdies in his last four holes.

"It was good. I think we were lucky with the weather today," Rai admitted after a flawless round containing three birdies and a tap-in eagle on the par-five 13th.

"When we got here this morning it was kind of blowy, so the guys this morning had it harder than we did, but nonetheless it's a tough course. I think anything under par was a good score and I was very pleased with a 65 to start off."

Fleetwood, whose 2018 season ended with the loss of his Race to Dubai title to Ryder Cup partner Francesco Molinari on Sunday, was also relatively satisfied with an opening 69 after struggling with his approach play.

"It's okay," the world number nine said. "You can't press too hard and to be fair I didn't play very good. I was fine getting off the tee, I drove the ball lovely which is the really important part to do, but my iron play was way off so one under is not bad.

"I wouldn't say I'm weary, maybe a little bit on the tired side rather than fresh, but it's a great event this because you come here and there are guys that have just got their Tour cards that are really fresh and hungry and excited about playing.

"I do enjoy this atmosphere, it's nice to start again even though it's the end of the year. Three days left, let's play some golf."

France's Victor Dubuisson, who is playing for the first time since April after suffering a perforated ear drum, is three over par after a 73.