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November 15th 2009, Hong Kong: France’s Gregory Bourdy fended off a spirited challenge by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy to close with a three-under-par 67 to win the UBS Hong Kong Open on Sunday.

The honour of winning Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event went to the Frenchman after he sealed his third career victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club with a four-day total of 19-under-par 261.

McIlroy’s late rally was not enough to make up for the heartbreak of last year and he had to settle for second place again after signing off with a 64 for a 263 total.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari closed with a 64 to take a share of third place with Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands on 264 while England’s Ian Poulter and France’s Raphael Jacquelin are tied for fifth on 266.

Bourdy who led the US$2.5 showpiece since the end of the second round never seemed likely to lose his grip of the lead despite a late scare from McIlroy who moved to within a single shot of him after the 16th hole.

“I wanted to stay focused on my game, play shot by shot and I knew if I was three or four under it would be okay to win the tournament. I didn’t look at the leaderboard until the 18th so I didn’t know Rory played well,” said Bourdy who won the last of his two European Tour titles in Estoril last year.

The 27-year-old Frenchman dropped his only shot of the day on the par-three eighth but answered with four birdies on the fifth, sixth, 10th and 13th to etch his name into the roll of honour.

“It’s great. I had a fantastic week. It’s my best golf week, best golf day today. I played very consistent, missed a few putts at the start of the round but I stayed confident and it’s amazing. I needed this victory to go to Dubai as well, my girlfriend is here and everything went right. It’s fantastic,” said a delighted Bourdy.

McIlroy was left to rue a costly bogey on the 17th that derailed his chances of erasing the pain of last year where he finished in second place too.

“I knew if I had holed it, it was the only way I had any chance of winning. The grain pushed it to the left on the way by and I thought it would be the same on the way back but it just went straight,” said McIlroy.

“My goal this week was to win the UBS Hong Kong Open and I’ve come up just short again, for the second year in a row. But I gave it my best shot and that is all I can do,” added the 20-year-old.

While McIlroy had to settle for second best again at the UBS Hong Kong Open, he took consolation that he is now on top of the money list in the Race to Dubai.

“If I had birdied one of the last two holes there I might have given myself a chance so that’s the way it goes. I am a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of the Race to Dubai,” added McIlroy.

Pre-tournament favourite Lin who was hoping to become only the second player in the history of the event to make a successful defence of the title after compatriot Hsieh Yung-yo claimed the honours in 1963 and 1964, failed to muster a challenge as he returned with a 72 to sign off in tied-22nd place on 272.

“It’s quite disappointing to return with an over-par score today. I tried to rally a late charge but I guess a couple of wayward swings didn’t do me any favours,” said Lin.

“Anyway, there’s no point looking back and I just have to look ahead. It’s just like my mantra in life. You fall down but you just have to pick yourself up and move on,” added the five-time Asian Tour winner.