香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」 本地球員許龍一世界級演繹獨領風騷勇奪冠軍

Taichi Kho records historic victory at World City Championship

[香港，2023年3月26日] 由香港哥爾夫球會呈獻的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」今日完滿結束。香港球手許龍一以總桿數198桿（-12） 完成賽事，榮登首屆「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」冠軍寶座，亦是自1959年後，首位土生土長的香港球手獲得參加四大滿貫之一「英國公開賽」參賽資格，為本港青少年高爾夫球發展注入一支強心針！

由於雷雨的關係，賽會昨天已宣布賽事以三輪54洞的成績計算。今日天氣持續不穩，整天也下著雨，對球手的發揮也有一定的影響。昨日只打了兩洞但仍領先排行榜的許龍一今日表現也顯得有點狼狽，整輪只能以平標準桿70桿完成賽事。

今早8時05分，許龍一在第三號洞重新出發，由於昨天開球時打到左邊樹林中，在滿鋪枯葉的樹叢中把球送回球道令他浪費了一桿而吞下柏忌，一度與緊隨第二位的菲律賓球員塔布埃納（Miguel Tabuena）只有三桿的差距。

在6號洞的4桿洞，許龍一雖然開球在球道上，但落在一個下坡的位置，擊球攻上果嶺稍微打短了，上了果嶺也回滾到球道，這也是粉嶺炮臺果嶺的特色，結果切回旗杆，保帕時候僅僅從洞口邊擦過而錯過保帕機會，柏忌（+1）完洞，與落後的對手只有兩桿的優勢，而緊隨的球員除了原有的塔布埃納（Miguel Tabuena），還增加了韓國的球員徐耀燮（Yoseop Seo）與紐西蘭球員亨特利（Michael Hendry）。與此同時，泰國名將阿費巴拉特（Kiradech Aphibarnrat）也只落後許龍一4桿。

小鳥的機會還是留給努力的人，在全場最長493碼4桿洞的9號洞許龍一拿下小鳥，許龍一繼續嘗試拉開領先距離，可惜他分別再在11號和15號洞吞下柏忌，領先的優勢一直只能維持2桿。

在12號洞的3桿洞許龍一再次在球迷眼前展示他的個人實力，他擊球落點就在過了洞口邊上倒旋回滾差一點一桿入洞，結果他順利一推進洞拿下小鳥；接下來的13號洞也是他平常搶分的一個洞，他發球後用球道木2桿就攻上果嶺，而且落點還很有機會繼續得分，結果順利兩杆拿下背靠背的小鳥。

許龍一繼續穩定發揮，雖然最後幾個洞沒有把握好小鳥進賬的運氣，但隨著最後3個洞都能保帕，也保證了領先優勢，他在18號洞按照原定計畫抽出1號木杆發球，證明他對這個球局是充滿信心的。結果發球落在球道靠左的位置，然後順利把小球送上果嶺，當他的小球落在粉嶺18號洞杯後，全場的球迷一同為這位冠軍王者歡呼，許龍一正式成為首屆「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」冠軍，同時也保證了參加「英國公開賽」的資格。

賽後他感恩能以香港哥爾夫球會大使的身份參賽，能夠以這個身份贏出賽事更是一個完美的結局。

作為香港首位贏得亞巡賽冠軍的球手，許龍一表示：「贏得冠軍的一刻真的十分激動。特別感謝香港的球迷，同時感恩父母、親友、教練和港隊的夥伴一直都在身邊陪伴著。今天看到那麽多球迷入場支持，我感到很開心，開球時大概只有100人左右，到最後估計身邊已經有1000人在沿路支持。」

在2021年的亞太業餘錦標賽中表現出色，但在冠軍爭奪戰延長加洞賽中遺憾未能奪冠而跟「英國公開賽」擦身而過的許龍一如今終於獲得參賽資格，他說：「今天或許是我人生目前最美好的一刻，英國公開賽的參賽機會在兩年前跟我擦身而過，所有事情的發生一定有原因的，這是我這禮拜學到的道理，我會很期待未來遇到的事情，希望有更多的啟發。」

至於內地的業餘球員丁文一本輪也比較反復，6號洞更吃下了雙柏忌，還好他能收拾心情處理餘下的賽事，可惜在13號洞下水後拋球上的細節沒有處理好而導致一個罰桿，這個洞需要吞下一個柏忌，後來15號洞再加一個柏忌把昨天的努力一筆勾銷，幸好他連續在16、17洞都可以拿到小鳥，最後以高標準桿2桿完賽，總成績低標準桿2桿的208桿，並列賽事第39名，成為賽事最佳業餘球員。

賽後丁文一表示：「整體來說我滿意自己表現的，只是需要更多在下雨天打比賽的經驗，對於天氣變化的準備也需要充份一點，今次未能爭取到英國公開賽的資格，我仍需要更加努力。」

隨著一眾亞巡賽的頂尖球手恢復在大雨下比賽的節奏，他們都在不斷地搶攻粉嶺球場的果嶺，最終紐西蘭球員亨特利（Michael Hendry）兩杆落後（總成績-10）獲得賽事亞軍，澳洲的史密夫（Travis Smyth）獲得第3名（-9），韓國的金畢歐（Bio Kim）第4名（-8），他們也一同獲得另外三個「英國公開賽」的參賽名額。

今日賽事共錄得超過5,000人次入場觀賞世界級高爾夫球競技，以及參與「粉嶺同樂谷」的各種適合一家大細的娛樂活動，包括高爾夫球體驗、現場音樂表演、國際美食佳餚，以及STEAM兒童及親子活動等。

香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」榮獲大型體育事務委員會頒發成為「M」品牌認可活動，標誌著這是集合緊張、精彩和刺激的大型體育活動。這項盛事將協助提升香港作為亞洲體育盛事之都的形象。

Taichi Kho made history today by becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event after he recorded a hugely popular and significant victory at the inaugural World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Kho, who only turned professional in January, triumphed by two shots from New Zealand’s Michael Hendry on another wet day at the Hong Kong Golf Club to fittingly celebrate the week he was announced as an ambassador for the club and the return of international tournament golf to the Special Administrative Region of China for the first time in 38 months.

Twenty-two-year-old Kho closed with an even-par 70 to finish the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes because of the inclement weather, on 12 under, and also secure one of the four spots up for grabs in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.

Hendry shot a 68 while Australian Travis Smyth returned a 66 to finish third, three behind Kho. Korean Bio Kim (65) and Miguel Tabuena (72) from the Philippines tied for fourth, a shot further back.

Hendry, Smyth and Kim also made it through to The Open, where Kho will also become the first Hong Kong Chinese player to compete in the game’s oldest and most prestigious Major. Kim secured his berth ahead of Tabuena due to a better world ranking.

“Being at home, in front of everyone, having my parents here, it just means the world to me. I want to say thank you to everyone,” said Kho.

“I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have this opportunity. To play on the Asian Tour and represent Hong Kong Golf Club, to play well with both those things it is very special. The fans gave me a lot of momentum, thank you to Hong Kong.”

Yesterday’s poor weather meant Kho could only play two holes of his third round before play was stopped for the day at which point he had a healthy four-shot lead over Tabuena. But when played resumed this morning at 8.05am he struggled to find his rhythm, to the concern of his many local supporters, and dropped shots on the third and sixth to see his lead reduced to two.

However, to the delight and relief of everyone watching he sensationally got back on track when he holed out from 50 yards for a birdie on the par-four ninth before holing a difficult five-foot putt for par on the next.

A dropped shot on the ensuing hole was again cause for alarm especially as further ahead Smyth and Korean Yoseop Seo had made birdies to close the gap to one.

But Kho produced another master shot on the short par-three 12th nearly holing his tee shot. He confidently holed a four-foot putt there for a birdie and a two-shot advantage.

On the par-five 13th he reached the green in two to set up a birdie for a three-shot cushion. He then had a chance to go four ahead on the following hole but missed a 12 footer for birdie before he dropped a shot on the next after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

That mean he had a two-shot lead over Smyth with three to play but it soon moved to three when the Australian dropped a shot on the last.

And by the time he reached 18 his lead was back to two over playing partner Hendry, who made a strong finish with birdies on 16 and 17. Kho opted to hit driver on the famous par-four closing hole and to the thrill of the large gallery watching his ball landed safely to help set up a comfortable, drama free par.

He said: “I definitely wasn’t fearless, I was nervous, which was perfectly natural in the moment, but I said to myself I will be a better player by the end of it. I stuck to my game plan, did not shy away from him it and fully committed to what I have in my book. I told my coach last night whether I have a two-shot lead or back by one on the last hole, I am taking driver, and I fully committed to that. That’s the reason why I succeeded this week.”

This is only Kho’s third event as a professional on the Asian Tour as he made it through the Tour’s Qualifying School in January. He is the third fastest graduate from the school to win on tour.

“I’ve been playing really solid for a while now,” said Hendry.

“Pretty much all year I’ve been playing really well, I had win on the Aussie Tour not long ago and I sort of keep putting myself out there or there abouts, so I’m really happy with the game and excited. I only got the opportunity to play this event on Saturday, so to come here and have a great event, and get myself an Open start, that’s awesome.”

The Asian Tour now has a two-week break before the inaugural International Series Vietnam at KN Golf Links from April 13 to 16.

Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / World City Championship