Double Whammy

Liu Lok-tin bounces back superbly to become the first local golfer since 1989 to win the Hong Kong Open Amateur title, his second big win of the year

With his win, Liu completed what is thought to be an unprecedented double. Over the Lunar New Year holiday, he also won the Hong Kong Close Amateur Championship at Fanling by a staggering 10 shots, which came hot on the heels of a breakthrough performance in Hainan where he won the China Junior Open.

Playing in the final group, Liu got off to the worst possible start to his round. After a par at the first, he lost a ball at the par-five second and made a double bogey. Another wayward drive  followed at the picturesque par-4 3rd and things were looking grim for the 6'4"Elegantia School student. But after his playing partners both butchered the 3rd and 4th, Liu made a fine birdie at the 5th to take the lead in the tournament for the first time.

"The double bogey actually relaxed me," said  Liu, who routinely drives the ball in excess of 300 yards. "After that, I knew what I had to do."

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