Sweden's Patrik Sjöland made up for a disappointing year in Europe by winning the $300,000 Perrier Hong Kong Open Sunday at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The 28-year-old's closing 2-over-par 72, although 10 strokes worse than his brilliant third- round score, was enough to beat Welshman Ian Woosnam by a shot.
Sjöland finished 11-under par for the Asian PGA Davidoff event, and won $50,010 for first place.
Woosnam, winner of the Hong Kong Open the last time he played in the event 12 years ago, was four behind Sjöland at the start of the day and came close to catching the Swede after closing with a 69. The 41-year-old won $33,000 for second position.
Sjöland was seven ahead of playing partner Woosnam following the first two holes -- the Swede birdied the second, while Woosnam bogeyed the first two holes. Sjöland then proceeded to let Woosnam get back into contention with bogies on eight,11, 13 and 16. Woosnam rallied with birdies on the third, 12th and 14th, but fell one shot short at the end.
It is the first time a Swede has won the Hong Kong Open, and it allowed Sj246;land to finish 1999 on a high note after a relatively poor year in Europe. Sjöland finished fifth on the European Tour Order of Merit in 1998, but ended in 43rd place this year.
"After the seventh hole, everything went wrong," he said. "My putting was not at all positive -- I just had to put everything into it to try and win. I am elated. There was a lot of wind, and I was not comfortable on the back nine. I was one ahead on the 17th and 18th, and I thought I would need a birdie to win, but thankfully pars were enough."
American Gary Rusnak, the half-way leader, claimed third place at 8-under par after firing a final-round 69.
Felix Casas of the Philippines tied for fourth with Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty, a stroke behind Rusnak.
Defending champion Kang Wook-soon of Korea tied for eighth at 4-under par for the tournament, along with Hong Kong's Scott Rowe, who qualified at the European Tour Qualifying School last Monday.
The Davidoff Tour heads to Thailand next week for the Mittweida Thailand Open. The tournament tees-off a day earlier than normal, on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
The week after Thailand, just one more event remains on the Asian PGA Davidoff Tour this year, the $500,000 Omega PGA Championship, at Mission Hills Golf Club in China, from Dec. 9 to 12.
