Golf: Kingston collapse gifts title to Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie took advantage of a dramatic late collapse from the long-time final-round leader James Kingston to win the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

Kingston took a disastrous six on the par-four 18th to leave the Scot the winner on nine under par after a final-round 70.

The South African had wobbled with a bogey at the 16th but Montgomerie's missed birdie opportunities at the 17th and 18th looked to have cost him victory.

But in a rerun of last year's meltdown against eventual winner Miguel Angel Jimenez, Kingston blew up on the final hole, skewing his tee shot into the trees, and then missing a 10-foot putt which would have forced a play-off.

The 40-year-old finished in joint second alongside Korea's KJ Choi, Taiwan's Keng-chi Lin, Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot and American Edward Loar.

The overnight leader, Scotland's Simon Yates, had a double-bogey on the par-four first to set the tone for a five-over round which included just one birdie and a triple-bogey on the 14th, ruining his hopes of winning at Fanling.

"My play-off record is terrible so I was rather glad we didn't have one," Montgomerie said.

"I think I've won one out of nine in my career, against Ernie Els at Sun City. I've lost my other eight so I wasn't hoping for a play-off."

"James was very much favourite in the play-off, I can assure you. Everyone's heart goes out to James," the 42-year-old Scot added.

"That should have been a play-off at worst, to be honest, and then we would have had more drama coming down that last hole.

"He should be making the winner's speech and not me. He played better golf than me for 71 holes this week but sometimes golf is a cruel game."

Kingston, who burst into tears on the green at the 18th, could only rue another missed opportunity, which he put down to nerves.

"I just messed up again for the second straight year," said the 40-year-old, who was tied with Jimenez with one hole to play 12 months ago but hooked his tee shot into the trees to bogey.

"Obviously I was aware of the situation. I was just so nervous. Last year I pulled it left and this year I wasn't going to do the same thing.

I hit it right and just made double from there."

American Jim Furyk chipped in for a birdie to win a four-way play-off that included Darren Clarke for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City at the second extra hole yesterday.

The world No 7 deserved the win after missing a five-foot par putt on the same 18th green minutes earlier, which cost him victory in regulation play.

Furyk jumped for joy at his victory, delighted at seeing off the challenge of defending champion and world No 4 Retief Goosen, world No 8 Adam Scott and Clarke.

- INDEPENDENT