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Josh Ball

Tom McKibbin’s seemingly inevitable march to the Link Hong Kong Open title hit an MJ Maguire-sized speed bump on Saturday, and a shoot-out now beckons for the spoils that will go to the victor.
Ahead since the start of the tournament, the Northern Irishman’s cushion is down to a shot, after his second successive 65 was more than matched by Maguire’s nine-under-par 61, which moved him to 19 under for the tournament.
Peter Uihlein is a stroke further back in third, while the evergreen Scott Hend, who won at Hong Kong Golf Club in 2014, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat round out the top five on 17 under after carding 64 and 66 respectively.
All are chasing the green-and-gold pot at the end of the rainbow, with a spot in next year’s Masters and the 154th Open Championship up for grabs alongside the US$360,000 (HK$2.8 million) first prize.

“Everyone came here knowing the spots were available, and there’s no big deal in finishing second or third,” McKibbin said. “I came here with the mindset of just trying to give it a good go, and hopefully I can do that tomorrow.”
Maguire, meanwhile, was going steadily along at three under until he punched an eight iron out from among some trees on the par-four 11th and it rolled in for an eagle. Four birdies in his closing seven holes dragged him into a conversation he had not been part of for the first two days.
Victory on Sunday would probably lift the American into the top five in the International Series Rankings, adding an extra layer of pressure to his final round.
“There’s definitely a lot to play for,” Maguire said. “So I’ll just try and play it one shot at a time and stay focused.”
Further down the field, and not for the first time in his career, Jason Hak Shun-yat will be Hong Kong’s lone representative on the final day of his home Open.
The 31-year-old’s two-under 68 in the third round took him to seven under overall, and it could have been better if not for the bogey on 18 when a putt he thought was going left broke right instead.
“I think it’s one of the lowest cut lines [four under] that I’ve played,” Hak said. “There are a lot of great players, there are major champions, Ryder Cup players, and I feel good to compete with some of the best.”
Hak will be back at Fanling again in two weeks for the National Games, although then his only focus will be helping the team win. Rules dictate that only two of the four-man squad can compete for individual glory, and this time that will be Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung.
Already the owner of a team silver medal from the 2013 Games, and with a fourth-place finish in 2021 under his belt, Hak would have been forgiven for feeling aggrieved at the decision to bench him in favour of Kho and Cheung, both of whom missed the cut this week.
“Obviously team comes first before the individual,” Hak said. “We have four great players, all can shoot low scores out there, so it doesn’t matter who plays for a stroke or the team, we’re all playing for the team.”


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Asian Tour

Link Hong Kong Open: MJ Maguire hot on Tom McKibbin’s heels ahead of final day

MJ Maguire in action at Hong Kong Golf Club on Saturday. Photo: Asian Tour

Tom McKibbin putts during round three at Hong Kong Golf Club. Photo: Asian Tour

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Wu Ashun focuses on a putt during round two at Hong Kong Golf Club on Friday. Photo: Asian Tour

Tom McKibbin in action during round two of the Link Hong Kong Open on Friday. Photo: Asian Tour

Asian Tour: McKibbin leads low-scoring charge with record round at Link Hong Kong Open

Tom McKibbin produced a record-setting performance in the first round of the Link Hong Kong Open. Photo: Asian Tour

Patrick Reed finished the day at five under. Photo: Elson Li

Jeffrey Shen was the best of Hong Kong’s golfers on day one. Photo: Asian Tour

Sport

Golf

Third-round 61 puts Maguire in contention for US$360,000 first prize along with spots in Masters and Open Championship


Third-round 61 puts Maguire in contention for US$360,000 first prize along with spots in Masters and Open Championship.


Hong Kong Open

Jason Hak Shun-yat

Link Hong Kong Open: MJ Maguire hot on Tom McKibbin’s heels ahead of final day

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Third-round 61 puts Maguire in contention for US$360,000 first prize along with spots in Masters and Open Championship

Third-round 61 puts Maguire in contention for US$360,000 first prize along with spots in Masters and Open Championship