香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」 首輪賽事本地球員許龍一以一杆之微緊隨領先者
Relentless Tabuena on the attack at World City Championship
[香港，2023年3月23日] 由香港哥爾夫球會呈獻的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」今日正式開鑼，上周在印度DGC公開賽獲得冠軍的菲律賓球員塔布埃納（Miguel Tabuena）在首輪賽事中以 -7 杆成績暫時領先。緊隨其後的是本地球員許龍一，只以一杆之差暫列第二位。
曾經一度低於標準杆8杆的塔布埃納在411碼的16號4杆洞吃下全天第一個柏忌，也是他從上周到現在34個洞的第一個柏忌；他在最後一洞上演一幕驚險的保PAR（標準杆），他在第二杆攻果嶺時候沒有成功上果嶺而是打短了落在果嶺前的沙坑上坡位置，救球出來後落在離開旗杆比較遠的後方大概7碼處，由於澳洲球員史密夫（Travis Smyth）在差不多同一線路比他先推杆，留下一個參考給塔布埃納，結果乘著這個機會救回一個平標準杆的18號洞。
昨天最後一個離開練習場的本地球員許龍一的努力並沒有白費，今天單日打出驕人的低於標準杆6杆（64）的成績。 作為亞巡新秀第一年的許龍一，在回到主場參加比賽感覺特別興奮。作為香港哥爾夫球會大使的許龍一在這全新的賽事中便獲得一個好開始，令他信心大增。
賽後許龍一表示：「開賽前還是有點緊張，但到發球臺時，我便感覺到一切都盡在掌握之內。今天是早上出發，當時風勢比較小，所以爭取機會表現，整天的球感不錯，也很順利，我很滿意今天的表現。」
開局的連續兩個小鳥加上一個老鷹也印證了他努力的成果，可惜在轉場後的一號洞吞下今天唯一的柏忌。目前許龍一以一杆落後領先球員，暫列第二位。
2014年香港高爾夫球公開賽冠軍，來自澳洲的名將亨特（Scott Hend）今天交出65杆（-5）的成績，落後領先的塔布埃納兩杆，目前暫列第3。
亨特表示：「前9洞的推杆把握不好，直到後9洞才把感覺抓回來，我要學會習慣更有耐性，讀懂果嶺。這個季節正好是冬季與春季草坪生長的交替，跟平常我們在秋季的香港哥爾夫球會場地有不一樣草坪狀態，但以球場狀態而言，這個球場簡直一流！」
中國的葉沃誠今天表現不錯，單輪67（-3）成績暫時並列第8位，要不是9號洞吞下柏忌，整個成績卡就完美了，初次體驗這個複合球場的葉沃誠特別希望爭取好成績，能獲得英國公開賽資格對他來說是個額外的誘因，明天他將會更用心應付粉嶺的果嶺，希望獲得更好的名次。」
首輪賽事在天氣良好的情況順利進行，整日共錄得逾3,000位觀眾入場欣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。3月25日（星期六）於舊場1號洞更會舉辦經典汽車展，定必成為車迷的打卡熱點。
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。
Miguel Tabuena’s hot streak continued today at the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club when he fired an outstanding seven-under-par 63 to take the lead on day one.
The Filipino won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard last week for his first victory on the Asian Tour since 2018 and he was bang in form again today on the Composite Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Hong Kong’s rising young star Taichi Kho shot a 64 and is second, ahead of Australian Scott Hend, who carded a 65.
Tabuena playing in the afternoon and in pursuit of Kho’s morning score was quickly into his stride with birdies on the first, third, fifth and sixth to make the turn in four under. And a run of four birdies in a row from the 11th saw him take control of the US$1 million tournament.
He dropped his only shot of the day on 16 and holed a brilliant 18 footer to save par on the last.
“I am riding on some of the momentum from last week,” said Tabuena, whose win last week was his third on the Asian Tour.
“It is nice to be bogey free for 34 holes including last week but I had an errant tee shot on 16 but other than that I am playing great golf. It is very early in the week to even think about the finish line but if I play the way I am playing I know I will give myself a good chance, on the back nine on Sunday.”
His victory last Sunday drained him both mentally and physically so his fitness coach Dr Harry Sese in the United States gave him some sound advice.
Tabuena said: “It’s been five years since I have experienced a victory on the Asian Tour and I got a text from Harry Sese, who works on my fitness and is the main guy for Jon Rahm and a fellow Filipino, saying ‘Migs stay hydrated, I know your energy levels can be low especially after a win so it’s very important to recover’.”
Rookie professional Kho was unveiled as the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Ambassador this week and he has quickly repaid the famous Club’s faith in him by also firing a brilliant round made up of an eagle, five birdies and just one bogey.
“Just an incredible start,” said 22-year-old Kho, who made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January and made the cut in the two events he has played in so far.
“I went out there with no expectations. I was quite nervous, there has been a lot going on with media. I was really nervous waking up this morning but once I stepped onto the tee it kind of flowed. Had a good round but was more proud about how I was able to channel that. I used the nerves and adrenaline to my advantage.
“I have got to say thank you to everyone who came this week and will continue to come out, whether following me or other Hong Kong players, it’s really great to feel that kind of support.”
Kho has played here many times and became a member in January and so was able to draw on his extensive local knowledge of the Composite Course – which uses the best of the holes from the New and Eden courses.
He said: “I realised certain clubs off the tee I was choosing quite differently from my playing partners. In that sense I see the golf course in a certain way. Whenever I see certain shots I feel very confident that’s the right shot.”
That was certainly the case when he began his round. Starting on hole 10 he birdied that hole as well as the following two before an eagle on 13.
Hend, who won the Hong Kong Open here in 2014, is still struggling with an upset tummy which he picked up in New Delhi last week but that did not stop him from shooting a low number, highlighted by three closing birdies.
“Got off to a slow start today, didn’t hole any putts,” he said.
“The golf course is playing a little different to what we are used to, just got to be a bit patient and figure the greens out. Felt like I had a better handle on them on the second nine.
“It’s in between growth season so the leaf on the greens is different from when we play in November when it’s quite a tight nap and they are quite fast, at the moment it’s more of a nappy sort of a green but they are still pretty quick but it’s a different break, need to pick different lines. Condition wise the course is magnificent.”
England’s Ian Poulter, the 2010 Hong Kong Open champion, shot a 68, while Wade Ormsby, the Hong Kong Open winner in 2017 and 2020 and the International Series Thailand two weeks ago, from Australia came in with a 69.
The World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club is the first international golf tournament in the Special Administrative Region of China for 38 months.
The tournament also has the honour of being part of The Open Qualifying Series, with the leading four players not otherwise exempt earning a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / World City Championship
