McKibbin Maintains Lead as Hong Kong Open Heads to Final Round

McKibbin Holds Steady at the Hong Kong Open

Tom McKibbin, the overnight leader, is on track for a potential wire-to-wire victory at the Link Hong Kong Open. However, he faces stiff competition from American golfers MJ Maguire and Peter Uihlein, who are closely trailing him on the leaderboard as the final round approaches at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Starting the day with a two-shot advantage over Uihlein, McKibbin followed up his record-setting round of 60 with a solid five-under 65, marking his second consecutive round without a bogey.

With a total score of 20-under after another 65, McKibbin remains in the lead, while Maguire surged into contention with a remarkable nine-under 61, bringing his total to 19-under. Uihlein, after two late bogeys, finished the day at 18-under.

Indian Golfers' Performance

The Indian contingent at the Link Hong Kong Open showcased commendable performances. Anirban Lahiri recorded a three-under round, totaling 12-under, placing him tied for 18th. SSP Chawrasia finished with a one-under round, bringing his total to 8-under, while Ajeetesh Sandhu also posted a one-under score, concluding the day at 7-under.

The Pursuit Group

Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who started in the final group with McKibbin and Uihlein, is three shots behind in a tie for fourth with Scott Hend, who impressed with a six-under 64. LIV players Charles Howell III and Louis Oosthuizen are tied for sixth at 16-under, both shooting four-under rounds of 66. U.S. golfer Charles Porter is at 15-under, alongside Korean-American Micah Shin and Thailand's Poom Saksansin, who both had strong rounds.

Reflections from the Course

McKibbin's streak of bogey-free play ended with a dropped shot on the third hole, but he quickly recovered with birdies on the fourth and fifth. He added three more birdies on the sixth, ninth, and twelfth holes, though he faced another bogey on the fifteenth. Two late birdies on the sixteenth and seventeenth holes helped him regain his lead over Maguire, who had an impressive run with seven birdies and an eagle.

McKibbin noted the tougher conditions on the course and expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I felt the course was playing a little tougher - the pins seemed harder, but I played some very nice golf." He emphasized that his focus is on performing well rather than just finishing in the top spots.

Maguire's strong performance included two birdies on the front nine and a remarkable stretch from the tenth to thirteenth holes, where he made three birdies and an eagle. He described a pivotal moment on the eleventh hole, where he holed out from the second shot, which sparked his momentum.

Uihlein had a mixed day, starting strong with five birdies but facing challenges towards the end. He reflected on the importance of the tournament, noting the opportunities for qualification for prestigious events like The Open and Masters.

Scott Hend, a ten-time Asian Tour champion, is well-positioned three shots behind McKibbin after a bogey-free round. He expressed his desire to win the Hong Kong Open again, highlighting the significance of the tournament for him.

Kiradech, making his first Asian Tour appearance this season, faced early challenges but rebounded with four birdies and an eagle, showcasing his resilience and enjoyment of the tournament atmosphere.

Tournament Significance

The Hong Kong Open is part of a series of elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour, providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League through the season-long Rankings race.