Hong Kong wins Asia-Pacific Men’s Amateur Golf Team Championship

Hong Kong’s golfers made history in Beijing on Friday, holding off the might of Japan, South Korea and the hosts to claim the Asia-Pacific Men’s Amateur Golf Team Championship title.

Markus Lam, Ethan Tian-jun and Jeffrey Shen Wang-ngai combined for a total of 19-under-par to finish four clear of the field, despite a back-and-forth battle in the final round.

Japan, who have won the Nomura Cup 10 times and narrowly missed out last year to Vietnam, were second, with Korea in third, a further seven shots back on eight under.

Victory added the city’s name to a list of teams that have defied the region’s powerhouses to win the Nomura Cup. One-time champions include the likes of India, New Zealand and Vietnam.

In another first, Shen’s four-round total of nine-under won him the Taimur Hassan Amin Trophy for leading individual at the tournament at the Bayhood No 9 International Golf Club.

“I’m very proud of the boys,” Tim Tang, the Hong Kong head coach, said. “They are talented individuals who work really hard so this week we just played our game. Markus just kept pushing. Ethan finished with an eagle and a birdie, Jeffrey finished two under and then Markus birdied the last hole – it was a great team effort.”