Brazel claims maiden European title at Hong Kong Open

Australian Sam Brazel clinched his first victory on the European Tour in a nail-biting finish at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Brazel, who was making his third appearance in the tournament, started the final round in a share of first alongside Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello on -11, two strokes clear of the field.

The Australian struggled on the front-nine and bogeys at the sixth and ninth dropped him out of the lead and requiring a big improvement at the turn in order to lift the trophy.

He duly responded and three consecutive birdies at 11, 12 and 13 lifted him back to the top of the leadeboard and within touching distance of a maiden victory on the European circuit.

But Cabrera-Bello was in no mood to let victory slip away and he made back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17 to move level on -12 with Brazel going down the last.

It was a nervous finish in Fanling but it was the 37-year-old who managed to hold his nerve and make a brilliant birdie, bettering the par his Spanish rival secured.

Brazel showed great determination and resolve in the two-under-par round of 68 on Sunday and he could now move into the top 150 of the world rankings from his current position of 480th.

The Aussie becomes the second first-time winner of the 2017 season, following on from Harold Varner III’s impressive win at the Australian PGA Championship.

Cabrera-Bello ended up in sole possession of second on -12, one behind the champion, while England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Australian Andrew Dodt were a further stroke back.

American David Lipsky ended up in fifth on -10 while Masters champion Danny Willett, who has been struggling for form since triumphing at Augusta National back in April, took sixth on -9.

Tagged Hong Kong Open, Sam Brazel