Wade Ormsby – photo Bruce Young
South Australian, Wade Ormsby, picked up where he left off when finishing 3rd at the Australian PGA Championship three weeks ago to lead the Asian Tour’s Hong Kong Open at the halfway stage at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.
Ormsby, who won this event in 2017, followed up his opening round of 65 with a second round 66 and leads by two over India’s S.S.P Chawrasia with Australian Travis Smyth another shot back in a share of 3rd place with, amongst, others the pre-tournament favourite, Jazz Janewattananond.
Ormsby no longer has status on the Asian Tour but is playing the event courtesy of an invitation.
The 39-year old produced several good finishes on the European Tour in addition to his 3rd place on the Gold Coast including a runner-up finish at the Vic Open and top ten finishes in Switzerland and Sweden.
Ormsby has only won two events in his lengthy professional career but appears to have a real liking for the Hong Kong Golf Club layout.
“I wanted to come to a golf course that fits my eyes,” said Ormsby. “I had good vibes around here and I feel like I can get my game in good shape here. I love coming to Hong Kong. I love the golf courses here.
“I guess it’s a good thing being in the lead. You just got to get ahead and get them. I’m obviously playing well. I probably played better today than the way I did yesterday. Two bogeys and one of them was a bad hole but otherwise I played beautifully.”
Smyth is in his second season on the Asian Tour having finished 43rd on the Order of Merit last year. He is playing this event for the first time however and is enjoying the Hong Kong Golf Club’s layout.
“I’m playing good golf and I feel like I got the gist of this golf course now,” said the tall New South Welshman. “So yeah, I’m looking forward to the weekend, You really have to position your ball well here and it’s like how you play golf in Australia too.
“It’s not a bombers’ paradise. The greens are awesome and I feel like I’m putting well so that’s probably the reason why I’m up there on the leaderboard. I just have to try and do my thing and see where I end up at the end of the week. I’m going to play pretty much the same way I’ve been doing.”
Asian based Queenslander, David Gleeson, and Victorian, Terry Pilkadaris, are the next best of the Australians in a share of 19th place and six shots from Ormsby.
