Grégory Bourdy and Robert-Jan Derksen pulled further clear of the chasing pack during the final round as the UBS Hong Kong Open climax appeared set for a two horse race.
Beginning the day on 16 under par, overnight leader Bourdy birdied his fifth and sixth holes to move to 18 under par through seven holes.
He was matched by a good start from his playing partner in the final round at Hong Kong Golf Club, with second-placed Derksen picking up birdies on the third, sixth and seven holes to sit on 17 under par and three under for the round.
Raphaël Jacquelin was the pick of the chasing pack as he stormed to five under par on his round to move up seven places into a tie for third on 13 under par through 13 holes.
Jacquelin was joined on the 13 under mark by Rory McIlroy, who moved his overnight score of 11 under par on by carding birdies on the third and eighth hole - the latter birdie being a huge swinging putt that found the cup from the back of the green
David Dixon, Ian Poulter and Simon Dyson made up a group attempting to make headway on 12 under par, the pair all sitting on the four under par mark for the round.
Further down the leaderboard Lee Westwood, who looks set to give up his lead at the top of The Race to Dubai standings given second-placed McIlroy’s placing, was left to rue a final round 74 that pushed him down into a tie for 54th.
“This week was just a bit of an off week, nothing really went for me and I couldn't get anything going,” he said.
“I actually struck the ball as good as I have hit it all week today ironically. I couldn't get anything going on the greens and today was just typical of that.
“I am really looking forward to next week obviously. The difference between first and second next week is more than the difference here will be so if I won next week I still win.
“That's what I set out at the start of the last few weeks, to make sure I was within the difference between first and second and I am going to be that.”
