England's Aaron Rai leads from wire to wire to win the Honma Hong Kong Open

European Tour Honma Hong Kong Open final leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019000/leaderboard/index.html#/results

After opening 65, and a new course record 61, English rookie Aaron Rai never looked back and despite a furious finish -6 64 by fellow countryman Matthew Fitzpatrick, he posted his 4th round in the 60's, this time a -1 69 to win the Honma Hong Kong Open by a shot after leading by 6 at the start of the day.

After 3 wins on the Challenge Tour this was his first win on the European Tour in only his 46th start, as they begin their 2019 Race to Dubai. Rai's mother is from Kenya and came to England in 1970.

Rai had this to say in his post round interview.

"It definitely hasn't sunk in just yet. I'll probably need a few days for that to happen.
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 crowds have been amazing. I'm just very grateful.

"Matt played incredibly all day. It was tough but again, I really just tried to play the course as much as possible rather than Matt or anyone else who was playing well today.  I luckily managed to do that for most of the way around. It was tough considering the situation but I'm very pleased"

 

Fitzpatrick's sensational 64 saw him finish alone 2nd -16, with another Challenge Tour graduate Victor Perez and Australian Jason Scrivener T3 -11.

Scot David Drysdale shot -4 66 -10 5th, while India's Rookie of the Year Shubhankar Sharma and Spanish pair Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello T6 -9.

Garcia capped off a terrific end to his year which was ignited at the Ryder Cup. He couldn't make enough putts today, and is now off to his homes in Crans Sur Sierre in Switzerland and Austin, Texas where his in laws live.

Bryan Angus