Van De Velde Likes Golf in Hong Kong

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Courtesy HKPGA.com

Jean Van de Velde ended his five-year title wait by cruising to victory at the Ageas Hong Kong PGA Championship.

The 44-year-old Frenchman, whose last win came at the 2006 Madeira Islands Open, carded a final round of 69 over the demanding Gary Player-designed North Course at The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau to finish at 13-under-par for the tournament, eight shots ahead of Asian Tour regular Guido Van der Walk of the Netherlands in second place. Hong Kong stalwart Derek Fung finished third, a further stroke adrift.

Hong Kong’s Liu Lok-tin ended the tournament as the top amateur. The 17-year-old’s three-day total of 214 (one-over-par) earning him a share of fifth. Defending champion C.J. Gatto finished in solo fourth.

“It’s great to win again, I’ve had a lot of fun this week,” said Van de Velde, who made headlines around the world in 1999 when he lost three-stroke lead at the final hole of the Open Championship before losing out in a play-off to Scotland’s Paul Lawrie. “I haven’t played much golf at all in recent years, but when I have played I have done pretty decent, so this is very pleasing.”

Van de Velde collected HK$58,000 for the win, but despite his dominant performance over one of the strongest fields in the Hong Kong PGA Championship’s 27-year history, ruled out a return to full-time tournament golf.

“I will play a few international tournaments this year ¬– the French Open, maybe the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea and the Dunhill Links – but I’ve been done this for so long that I don’t want to keep packing my suitcase. Those days are behind me,” said Van de Velde, who fired a course record 65 in the first round at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club despite suffering from jetlag having flown in from Europe the night before.

Van de Velde is a regular visitor to Hong Kong, where his wife and two young sons reside, and pledged to return to defend his title in 2012.

“I’m very grateful to the HKPGA for making me an honorary member and I hope to play more and more in Hong Kong in the future,” said Van de Velde, who is an ambassador for France’s bid to host the Ryder Cup in 2018.