Sponsor Lo goes so close
SINGAPORE international Bill Fua denied tournament sponsor Simon Lo a fairytale victory on the opening day of the inaugural Hongkong PGA Classic Pro-Am at Discovery Bay Golf Club.
Fua combined with amateur partners Chan Pak-cheung, Wong Hang-sau and Baik Soo-jee to return a team total of 12-under-par 130 over the Diamond-Ruby layout in the event in which the best two nett scores each hole counted.
Playing in the last of the 23 flights yesterday, the team of businessman Lo, who has put up $100,000 for the two-day tournament, were one shot ahead of Fua's quartet after nine holes.
Although 13-handicapper Lo, Discovery Bay senior professional Alex Tang, Gerald To and Tsang Chi-wai came back in eight-under-par 62 it was only good enough to leave them level with Fua's team, who secured victory on a countback over the last nine.
One shot back in third place was the team of national champion Tang Man-kee, Robert Wong, Berrie Law and Diane Yun, with Man Hung-lap's quartet claiming fourth place on 132 on a countback from the team of Singapore professional Lim Kiang Kee.
As the pro of the winning team, Fua collected a cheque for $5,000 which he will aim to double today when the 23 professionals play an 18-hole strokeplay event.
