Hamish Brown took home his second Challenge Tour title in thrilling fashion at the Hainan Open, overcoming Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
It was a high-stakes finish for the 25-year-old Dane, who managed to force the extra hole with a clutch birdie on the 18th in regulation, keeping the pressure on Go, who had been leading at 20-under.
Go had a strong lead with just four holes left but faltered on the 15th with a bogey, followed by a string of pars.
Meanwhile, Brown stayed focused and capitalised on his opportunities, pushing the tournament into a sudden-death playoff.
“It feels unbelievable,” Brown shared after his win. “I managed to win in a country so far from Denmark. It’s humid, the culture is different, and somehow I played good golf despite it all.”
Entering the final day three shots off the lead, Brown wasted no time making his move, starting with an opening birdie and following up with two more on the sixth and seventh holes.
By the turn, he had already shaved off the deficit, carding a 33 on the front nine. A steady hand on the 12th and 14th holes kept him in contention, and his birdie on the final hole secured the playoff opportunity he needed.
Despite the pressure of a playoff, Brown remained cool under the sweltering conditions at the Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club.
“I was thinking, I already had a good week, and if I finished solo second, that’d still be great. I’m not very good with the heat, and somehow I got into the playoff, and the rest is history,” Brown said.
Reflecting on the intensity of the final stretch, Brown admitted, “The last hour went by so fast. I didn’t even know where I was on the leaderboard until I reached the 18th, and I thought a birdie might give me a shot.
I’m pleased I kept the bogeys off the card today. I haven’t managed that this week until now, and it was bugging me.”
This victory keeps Brown in third place on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, and with two Challenge Tour wins already under his belt this season, he’s eager to go for a third.
“I want to get another one, but I know I’ve got to play some good golf to do that. I’m looking forward to next week and seeing if I can make it happen.”
The Road to Mallorca stays in China for the Hangzhou Open at the Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club, marking the second of two back-to-back events in the country.
