John Catlin of the United States on Sunday claimed victory at the Hong Kong Open, winning at the iconic Fanling golf course for the seventh Asian Tour trophy of his career. The California native carded a sizzling six-under-par 64 in round four to finish 20-under overall, holding off local favourite Matthew Cheung and Finland's Kalle Samooja by five strokes. Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Nick Voke of New Zealand finished tied for fourth at 14-under. It's Catlin's first triumph on the Asian circuit since the 2024 Saudi Open, and adds to victories in Thailand, Macau, and Malaysia. Catlin went into the final round locked in a tense four-way tie for the lead at 14-under-par alongside compatriot Caleb Surratt, India's Anirban Lahiri, and Thomas Pieters of Belgium. But a brilliant performance on the 18th-hole sand solidified his place at the top of the leaderboard. "There were so many great players, and there was a four-way tie for the lead... anything can happen," Catlin told reporters after the win. "I just tried to focus on what I can control. I didn't know what anyone else was doing, and I didn't look at the leaderboard until I came down the 18th," he added. "I just tried to keep focused on the shot at hand, and keep trying to execute good golf shots. History has shown me that it's not over until it's over, and so I just kept pushing forward, giving every shot my full undivided attention. And it paid off... I've got this beautiful trophy here." Victory in the SAR also came with another milestone for Catlin, who is ranked 447 in the world. With the Asian Tour tournament a part of The Open Qualifying Series, his strong showing in Fanling earned him a highly coveted qualifying ticket to the 155th edition of the prestigious event, which will be played at the historic Old Course in St Andrews next July. It also guarantees him his maiden qualification for the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia next year. "It's kind of a dream come true," Catlin said. "From the time I can remember, I started playing golf when I was three years old, and my goal was always to play in the Masters. This is my thirteenth year as a professional golfer, and I hadn't had the chance to do so. You just never really know if its going to happen." _____________________________ Last updated: 2026-10-25 HKT 18:09 Edited by Aaron Tam

Hundreds of fans enjoyed a day out with their families at the Fanling Golf Course on Sunday for the final day of Hong Kong Open action. The four-day event, which is marking its historic 65th edition, teed off on Thursday to much fanfare as the sport's biggest stars descended upon the SAR. Hans, a local resident attending the tournament for the second time with his kids, told RTHK that the Hong Kong Open is a great opportunity for families to get up close and personal with some of the world's top athletes. "It's a great event, walking around with the kids... getting close with the different golf professionals," he said. "It's an awesome experience, being so close to the professional players and also they do a good job of bringing the fan village together," he added. "It's fun for the kids." Hans also commended the event's fan-friendly atmosphere, saying the interactive stalls, games, and entertainment made the tournament stand out from other sporting events. Another local fan, Leon – who is attending the event for the sixth year in a row – echoed the sentiment. "Personally, I play golf and I'm a member of the club. [This event] has such a nice outdoor area for the kids, every year we take them over and have some fun," he told RTHK. He also pointed out that there were many elements of Hong Kong culture on display at the fan village. "[Besides] the golf, we have Hong Kong culture, cultural stuff... which is very fun for the kids. I'd definitely recommend it." Bryant Lu, captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, said that the competition is a great opportunity for all sports fans to get a taste of a different side of the bustling city. "I think what we offer is a very unique experience," he told reporters outside the course's clubhouse. "Being a golfing event we have outdoors... and we can come all the way up to the Northern Metropolis. I think this is the new future for Hong Kong, and hosting an event here not only brings people to play golf but [they can] also experience what changes the Northern Metropolis brings to Hong Kong, I think that's very important. "I think coming up here you can experience a different side of Hong Kong – beautiful trees, nice grounds, fresh air, and lots of smiling faces." Edited by Aaron Tam

The slump continues for the Red Warriors.