Link Hong Kong Open: MJ Maguire hot on Tom McKibbin’s heels ahead of final day
Third-round 61 puts Maguire in contention for US$360,000 first prize along with spots in Masters and Open Championship
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.