BRAZEL MOVES TO WORLD NO.147 WITH HONG KONG WIN
Week 50

Sam Brazel birdied the last to beat Rafa Cabrera Bello by one shot and win his first European Tour title at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The Australian entered the week ranked 480th, earned 32 World Ranking points moving to World No. 147.

12TH DECEMBER 2016 | 10:11 AM

Asian / European Tour - UBS Hong Kong Open

Sam Brazel birdied the last to beat Rafa Cabrera Bello by one shot and win his first European Tour title at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The Australian entered the week ranked 480th in the Official World Golf Ranking but entered the final day at Hong Kong Golf Club tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Ryder Cup star Cabrera Bello in just his 17th European Tour appearance.

At one point there were six players in a tie for the lead on the back nine but Brazel held off a group with 11 European Tour titles between them, and an eight-foot putt on the last handed him a closing 68 and a 13 under par total.

Cabrera Bello had birded the 16th and 17th to set up a grandstand finish down the last but he could only make a par and finish 12 under as Brazel's stunning approach set up just the second birdie of the day on the closing hole.

Australian Andrew Dodt and England's Tommy Fleetwood were then at 11 under, a shot clear of American David Lipsky and two ahead of Danny Willett.

Brazel was visibly emotional as he lifted the trophy and the 37 year old credited a new set of clubs with helping get him over the line, although he revealed that the second shot into the last may not have been as clean as it appeared.

"It's been a long time coming," he said.

"I've been playing good. It's just been a bit of a struggle with the old irons and my man, Adam, set me up with a new set of bats, and it's all sort of turned around. This is the fruit.

"I'd love to come over to Europe. It will be a great privilege."

He added: "I was very lucky. That wasn't the greatest second shot in there but it ended up good and the rest is history.

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