Lara clinches first triumph
Jose Manuel Lara secured a maiden European Tour victory after he edged Juvic Pagunsan to win the UBS Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
The Spaniard, who has finished second on the circuit on four previous occasions, was pushed all the way by Pagunsan and it came down to the final hole before Lara could confirm victory.
He had led for each of the rounds over the course of the four days and, though his place at the top of the leaderboard changed hands with Pagunsan on a number of occasions, he held firm to card a one-under-par 69 for a 15-under-par 265 total.
The crucial moment came on the 16th when Pagunsan carded a bogey and Lara shot a birdie to move back to the top, where he stayed for the remaining two holes.
Indian pair Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh rounded off a solid display at the Hong Kong Golf Club by finishing tied at third along with Thongchai Jaidee with a 12-under-par 268.
And Randhawa was pleased to have finished alongside his compatriot, admitting it is a good sign for his country's golf.
"We are great friends off the golf course and great competitors on the golf course," he said. "It is good we tied and did well and is good for Indian golf."
Meanwhile, last year's winner Colin Montgomerie had a disappointing weekend as he carded par-70 on both days to finish 19th with a five-under-par 275.
Liang Wen-chong carded the first hole-in-one of the tournament, and the 14th this season, on the 140 yards par-four 12th.
Michael Campbell dropped to three over overall after a disappointing final round for the New Zealander. He carded four bogeys on the front nine and then shot a double bogey on the sixth for a five-over-par.
