Hamish Brown secured his second Challenge Tour title when he came out on top against Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines with a birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Hainan Open.
The Dane’s crucial birdie on the final hole in regulation play ensured the tournament would go into extra time after Go – who was holding the lead at 20-under with four holes to play – bogeyed 15 and could only par his last three holes.
“It feels unbelievable,” he said. “I managed to win in a country that’s so far away from Denmark. It’s very humid, with different cultures and I somehow played good golf during it.”
Brown entered the final round three shots off the pace in a share of fourth place and made a fast start with an opening birdie. The 25-year-old followed up with a pair of birdies on six and seven to turn in 33.
He picked up two more shots on the 12th and 14th holes before a birdie on 18 extended his battle with Go, which he admitted was won without much pressure at the Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club.
“I was thinking, I already had a good week and if I finished solo second, it’ll still be good. I’m not very good with the heat and somehow I got into the playoff and the rest is history,” said Brown.
“The last hour went by so fast. I didn’t know where I was (on the leaderboard) until 18 where I thought a birdie would give me something. I’m pleased I managed to keep the bogeys off the card today. I haven’t done that this week until today and that annoyed me a little bit.”
Brown remains in third place in the Road to Mallorca Rankings. With two Challenge Tour wins this season, the Dane is now hoping to win a third and end his season with a flourish.
“I want to get another one but I know I got to play some good golf to do that. I’m looking forward to next week and see if I can do that,” said Brown.
The Road to Mallorca remains in China for the Hangzhou Open at Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club, the second of back-to-back events in the Middle Kingdom.
