It was a case of 264th time lucky for Wade Ormsby as he won the European Tour's Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on Sunday.
The Australian had started the day one shot behind SSP Chawrasia, who had a final round to forget as the overnight leader shot a two-over 72 to fall from contention thanks largely to a nightmare ninth hole where he three-putted and the Indian eventually had to settle for a share of seventh place on Sunday.
In contrast, Ormsby was a model of consistency for a fourth day running as he went round in a two-under-par 68 to secure the first European Tour title of his career, albeit it wasn't always plain sailing.
The 37-year-old, who was making his 264th appearance in European Tour events, had looked to be heading for a play-off with Rafa Cabrera Bello after bogeying the 18th hole but the Spaniard also dropped a shot at the last to fall into a tie for 2nd place with Alexander Bjork, Paul Peterson and Julian Suri. It was another near-miss for Cabrera-Bello, who was also runner-up in Hong Kong last year.
The reigning Race To Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood had briefly threatened to start the new campaign with a win on Saturday but he couldn't continue his momentum on Sunday as he went round in a perfectly respectable one-under 69.
Ormsby's victory was only the second of his professional career after he won the Panasonic Open India on the Asian Tour back in 2013.
The European Tour season continues with the Mauritius Open on Thursday.
