Aussies lead at Hong Kong Open

HONG KONG: Former champion Wade Ormsby and Aussie newcomer Travis Smyth took the top spots at the Hong Kong Open in early play Friday, battling to stay focused as devastating bushfires rage in their homeland.

Travis Smyth, playing in the $1 million tournament for the first time, carded 68 to end three points off Ormsby. Ormsby finished his second day in Hong Kong with a four-under 66 to stay at the top of the leaderboard. He said he would use all the “little tools to try and get my head into gear” as the pressure builds going into the weekend.

US world number 16 Tony Finau started strongly after a lacklustre first day, but shot three bogies over the round to card a one-under 69, seven points adrift of the top. That left “a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth,” said the American of Tongan-Samoan heritage, who was the first Polynesian to play in a Ryder Cup.