Denmark’s Hamish Brown claimed the third HotelPlanner Tour victory of his career and rise to the top of the Road to Mallorca rankings after winning the Hangzhou Open in China.
A closing 71 was all Brown needed to get over the line on a testing day at Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club, with the 27-year-old finishing on 21 under par, one stroke ahead of compatriot Kristian Hjort Bressum, and four clear of the chasing pack.
“It’s hard to describe the emotions I’m feeling right now,” said Brown, whose other HotelPlanner Tour wins came in Czech Republic and China in 2024. “Today was a proper grind from the very first shot. I’m over the moon but a really hard day today.”
Tough scoring conditions
The challenge Brown faced was heightened after the first hole, with a bogey meaning the two-stroke lead he started the day with was narrowed to one.
Birdies followed for the 54-hole leader at two and four, but another dropped shot on six meant he turned in level par with his advantage over Bressum only one shot.
But the former Nordic Golf League player found his rhythm on the back nine, with birdies on 10, 15 and 17 seeing him playing the final hole with a three-stroke lead. The wide margin was very much needed after a three-putt led to a double bogey six and a winning margin of just one.
Battle of the Danes
“I don’t know how many people have tried three-putting from six feet to win, but I tried that today so that was kind of fun now, but not when it happened,” he added. “It was a different wind direction today, really tough pins and if you’re not from the fairway you’re struggling to make birdies and you can very easily make bogeys because the run-offs are right there.
“I tried to lean on the experience from my previous wins, but I’ve never won from having a lead and that’s kind of annoyed me for a while now, but now I have. Here, I was trying to protect a lead and it was a really hard day.
The Dane said he enjoyed the battle against compatriot Bressum, with the runner up earning his way into the Grand Final this week, where Brown now heads top of the rankings.
“It was nice to have Kristian right there and kudos to him, he played great golf. He’s a great guy and he’s come a long way this year having his first year out here so well done to him.
“We’re not done yet. It’s nice to be there, I’ll have the last tee time on Thursday in Mallorca, but that’s really it. We’re not done, I’m trying to win that thing and see what happens.”
For all the scores from the Hangzhou Open, click here.