Danny Lee and Mark Brown Hong Kong Golfers

Kiwi golfers Danny Lee and Mark Brown have resisted the urge to join world No 1 Tiger Woods at the Australian Masters in Melbourne this week and instead will contest the Hong Kong Golf Open.

Lee will be making his first appearance in Hong Kong golf after being forced out last year with what was later diagnosed as chicken pox. The Hong Kong golf tournament is a co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour event and boasts a prize fund of $US2.5 million ($NZ3.50 million), more than double on offer at the Australian Masters starting on Thursday.

Lee ended his HSBC Champions campaign in Shanghai today with a final round 74 for a disappointing seven-over tally of 295. Brown was more upbeat after seizing back-to-back birdies mid-round in a four-under 68 to finish in a tie for 31st on 284, 13 shots behind the winner, American Phil Mickelson.

It marked his lowest closing display all season, and was only the fourth occasion in 13 events, when he has played all four days, that he has broken 70.

He recorded five birdies, and just one bogey at his second hole, before ending with seven successive pars.

“It’s nice to end the week with my lowest round but it’s stupid to say, because I have been playing better than some of the scores I’ve been shooting,” Brown said. “But finally I’ve had a week here in Shanghai where I have played half-decent for once.” Brown had qualified for the event due to his high placing on the 2008-09 Australasian Order of Merit and he will head to Hong Kong for his last event of the season.

“It was a real bonus getting into this Shanghai event especially after the year I’ve had because I really don’t deserve to be here,” Brown said bluntly. “However I played here last year so I knew the course pretty well and that has been a great help. “But over the past month, golf has been really challenging and my scores have been awful but I feel as though it is starting to all turn around.

“Then you never know, a decent result in Hong Kong golf next week could turn it into a pretty decent year.”

Full coverage of the Hong Kong Golf Open at www.golfinhongkong.com