Australian Daniel Nisbet ready to defend his title at ‘breathtaking’ Clearwater Bay Open
The field for next week’s event features six PGA Tour China winners and players of 14 different nationalities
Daniel Nisbet is looking forward to returning to the “most beautiful course” he’s played as he attempts to defend his title at next week’s Clearwater Bay Open.
The Australian is hoping to rekindle his love affair with the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, which he described as breathtaking on winning the biggest title of his career last November.
Nisbet was five strokes behind third-round leader Alex Kang before catching the American with a Sunday round of 64 and going on to win the play-off with an eagle on the first extra hole.
“It was pretty overwhelming, especially because of the finish. I played better each day and really well on the Sunday to make the play-off,” said Nisbet, whose only previous title was at a PGA Tour of Australasia event in Papua New Guinea in 2015.
“I had a nice bounce off the cart path in the play-off, so that helped, but I did well to hole the putt and was pretty fired up.
“As I said then, Clearwater Bay is the most beautiful course I’ve played and it’s impossible not to enjoy playing there.
“I just loved it so I’m really excited about coming back. I’m always keen to win, but we’ll just have to see. Hopefully it’s a lucky course for me.”
Australia’s Daniel Nisbet beats Alex Kang in play-off to win PGA Tour China Series Clearwater Bay Open title
Nisbet will face tough competition in the 1.5 million yuan (HK$1.7 million) event from a field that features players of 14 different nationalities.
The 27-year-old is among six PGA Tour China winners in the entry list along with Kim Tae-woo of Korea and Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand, Canadians Justin Shin and Eugene Wong and Chinese amateur Jin Cheng.
Brazilian Lucas Lee, who played on the PGA Tour in 2015-16, will make his Clearwater Bay Open debut.
Kim, 24, will be among the favourites to wrestle the title away from Nisbet after winning twice on last year’s PGA Tour China.
He eventually finished finishing fourth on the Order of Merit behind Dou Zecheng, who is now playing on the PGA Tour.
Hong Kong hope Jason Hak returns to Clearwater Bay Open knowing he’s ‘closed out before’ after first pro victory
Kim played 18 events on this year’s Web.com Tour but was unable to retain his card. Lee, 30, was the first player to move from the PGA Tour China to the PGA Tour, securing his card through the 2015 Web.com Tour.
Hong Kong No 1 Jason Hak Shun-yat will spearhead home hopes after winning his first pro title with a 10-stroke victory in Kunming in August.
