Dyson cleans up in Hong Kong

England’s Simon Dyson fired a final round seven-under-par 64 to record a brilliant victory in the US$500,000 Omega Hong Kong Open today at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

An unstoppable Dyson produced a vintage putting display to win by three strokes and claim the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit title in what was the final event of the year.

The 22-year-old Yorkshireman finished with a four-round total of 21-under-par 263 and picked up a cheque for US$80,750. Australian Kim Felton, American John Kernohan and Korean Charlie Wi tied for third.

Defending champion Patrik Sjoland of Sweden ended a stroke further back, while third round leader Paul Lawrie of Scotland closed with a disappointing 74 to fall back into a tie for eighth place.

"Seeing my name on top of the leader board is hard to believe. I putted so well. I holed some really good putts," said Dyson, who only turned professional at the end of last year.

Dyson had started the day a shot behind Lawrie and Felton but ran away with the tournament with a birdie on eight, an eagle on nine and then birdies on 12, 14, and 16.

His birdie putt on the par four 16th from 40 feet clinched it as it putt him three ahead.

Victory allowed him to jump from third place on the Merit list to first with total winnings for the year of US$282,371. India’s Jyoti Randhawa ended second with US$224,897 while Taiwan’s Yeh Wei-tze, who had led for most of the season, finished third on US$224,356.

Dyson, who celebrates his birthday on Thursday, also became only the second player to win three times in a year on the Davidoff Tour. In May he won the Macau Open and Volvo China Open titles back-to-back.

In a brilliant season, Dyson also made it through the European Tour qualifying school last month and played in this year’s British Open at St Andrews.

Said Dyson of his phenomenal rookie year: "My caddie John (Roberts) has definitely got something to do with it. I have a great coach, great manager and a great family and girlfriend. I can’t ask for much more than that. All I’ve had to do is play golf. That’s been the key."

Felton looked set to take sole possession of second place but three putted the last.

Said the Australian, who shot 60 on the second day: "At the start of the week if I knew I was going to finish second I would have laughed probably. It’s disappointing three putting the last and not finishing outright second. I’m happy. I finished 18 under and finished second."

Last year’s British Open champion Lawrie had been many peoples favourite to come through on the final day but had a bad day on the greens.

"I didn’t play very well I putted terrible. Putted awful again. Any putt for par I had I missed. There’s not much more I can do. I tried my best," said the Scot.