MATTHEW CHEUNG BEST EVER LOCAL FINISHER IN TIED-SECOND
John Catlin makes it fifth time lucky as he captures his first Link Hong Kong Open (LHKO) title after some blistering golf played in a week of glorious sunshine at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Local hero Matthew Cheung carded a final round three-under-par total-67 to secure the best result by a local player in the history of the Hong Kong Open.
American Catlin started the day in a four-way tie at the top, but ran away from his competition, including Cheung, with five birdies on the back nine. With a total score of 20-under-par 260-total over four days, his winning margin was five shots better than the Hong Kong star, who completed his campaign with a four-birdie three-under-par final round.
An ecstatic Catlin said: “It’s hard to put it into words. Really, you know, it was an event that I felt like I could do well at that I hadn’t really done well at in the previous years, and so you know, to come out and play some really, really solid golf and you know get the job done it’s very, very special; anytime you can be on a trophy with some of the greatest players to ever play the game, you know I just feel very humbled and very grateful.”
As LHKO 2026 champion, Catlin earned an automatic invitation to compete at the Masters at Augusta National and a direct starting spot as part of the Open Qualifying Series at St Andrews in 2027, making the event one of the most important and appealing to players on the Asian Tour.
Cheung had been an overnight leader at the half way point but battled to sustain his form on day three, carding a two-over-par round to start day four two shots behind the leaders. He battled gamely but couldn’t stop Catlin from running away with the prestigious title.
The 31-year-old, 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist in the men’s team golf event, has every reason to be proud as his impressive run puts him ahead of Dominic Boulet’s tied-fourth place in 1996 and Taichi Kho’s tied-sixth in 2024 at the Hong Kong Open, securing him in the Hong Kong Golf history books
Cheung commented: “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the win, but you know, unbelievable overall. I mean, today I just told myself, you know, I just got to keep playing free; that’s when I played my best golf in the first two rounds, and I know I can do it. I played really good today. Unfortunately, John played really well as well, so, it is what it is. But I’m really happy overall.”
Finland’s Kalle Samooja shared tied-second place with Cheung, while Thai fan favourite Jazz Janewattananond and Australia’s Nick Voke finished a further two-strokes behind. Mainland China’s top finisher was Sampson Zheng at tied-sixth (12-under-par, 268 total).
The city saw a record breaking five local players make the cut at the Hong Kong Open. Recent Fanling Classic winner Issac Lam continued his good form by finishing in a highly respectable tied-36th place. Low Hong Kong Amateur was Markus Lam who also made the cut, and enjoyed a fine three-under-par 67-total on Friday.
The Hong Kong Open is the city’s oldest professional sporting event – joining only one other club worldwide as hosts of the same tournament for over six decades, the other being Augusta National Golf Club and the US Masters.