Terrence Ng and Michael Regan Wong have claimed the two places up for grabs at this week’s Link Hong Kong Open Qualifying Tournament on a day of high drama across the Hong Kong Golf Club’s New Course.
With local hero and Hong Kong China Asian Games teammate Taichi Kho carrying his bag, Ng shot a nerveless final-round, six-under-par 64, coming from six-shots off the pace to seal a two-stroke victory on six-under 134 (70-64) on Friday.
“It’s great to get back into the Hong Kong Open, after not playing very well last year,” said Ng.
“It was definitely revenge for me today and hopefully I can play well this time. Taichi was a massive help. He helped me read a lot of putts. Obviously, he’s a great player and we just had a great time. We’re very good friends and he helped keep me relaxed. So having him on the bag was really fun.”
Kho, who became Hong Kong’s first-ever winner of an Asian Tour event at the Hong Kong Golf Club in 2023, is among the international stars to have already signed on for the 63rd staging of Hong Kong’s longest-running professional event.
He will be joined by the likes of England’s Justin Rose, victorious at the Hong Kong Open in 2015; rising South Korean sensation Tom Kim; and reigning champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand.
It speaks volumes about the camaraderie that exists in the Hong Kong golfing community that Kho, an official ambassador for the Hong Kong Golf Club, took time away from his own schedule to lug the bag for Ng.
“I’m proud of him,” said Kho. “He played great. I really didn’t have to do much but it was great to see.”
Hong Kong Golf Club-based Trainee PGA Professional Michael Regan Wong holed a 12-footer on the final hole for a four-under 136 (64-72) that saw him finish second – and claim the second spot available for the annual Fanling showpiece from 21-24 November. It was the second time in two weeks that Wong has played his way into an Asian Tour event after he took out the Macau Open Qualifying Tournament last week.
“A big relief and probably the biggest fist pump I’ve ever had [when his putt went in],” said Wong, who last qualified for the Hong Kong Open after winning the Hong Kong Open Amateur in 2014. “Just having fun has been the key to playing well, solidly over the past few weeks. If I have fun, I’m sure I can play pretty well.”
It’s been a hectic week so far for Hong Kong, China’s rising band of golfers, with the city’s top-ranked amateur Jeffrey Shen – last year’s top amateur at the Hong Kong Open – sitting in a tie for second after the first round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship underway in Japan.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong China team of Arianna Lau, Sophie Han and Sabrina Wong are currently sitting in third place overall at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, being played in Ontario, Canada.
For the second year in a row, the Link Hong Kong Open is part of The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar that form a pathway to the LIV Golf League over the course of the season. Events on The International Series also provide opportunity for local talent to compete in elite fields at each of its 10 destinations.