Australia’s Sam Brazel defied the odds and won the Hong Kong Open on Sunday with a birdie at the 18th, edging out Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello at the last tournament of the year.
Brazel, playing just his 17th European Tour event, was tied for the lead at the start of the final round and had work to do.
At one point six players were tied for the lead, but Brazel sank an eight foot putt for birdie at the last to secure a round of 68 and a one-stroke victory.
“Bloody great, I tell ya”
The most Australian winning interview you’ll hear ??? https://t.co/wUxaSPXe2E
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 11, 2016
Cabrera-Bello birdied the 16th and 17th to heap the pressure on his rival, but a par at the last by the Ryder Cup star was not enough.
Brazel began the week at 480th in the world, but that will change after his 13 under par triumph, which included playing rights for the next two years on the European Tour.
‘I was very lucky (on 18),’ he said. ‘That wasn’t the greatest second shot in there but it ended up good and the rest is history. It’s been a long time coming.’
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger shot 67 on Sunday to rise 18 places on the leaderboard and tied for 10th place, while Justin Walters backslid with a round of 74 and finished tied for 29th.
