HAMPSHIRE golfer Justin Rose lived up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite by claiming his eighth European Tour title in the UBS Hong Kong Open today.

Rose carded a final round of 68 in Fanling to finish 17 under par, one shot clear of Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard, with England's Matt Fitzpatrick, American Patrick Reed, Australia's Jason Scrivener and Korea's Lee Soomin joint third on 11 under.

Bjerregaard and Rose went into the final round tied for the lead and, with a four-stroke advantage over the chasing pack, were set for a head-to-head battle for the second day running.

Rose edged in front with a birdie on the second, but Bjerregaard immediately hit back with birdies at the next two holes to move into a lead which he held until three-putting the eighth.

Bjerregaard also looked in trouble on the ninth after his tee shot on the long par four left him blocked out by the trees, but the 24-year-old produced a brilliant approach to 10 feet and holed for an unlikely birdie.

And with Rose surprisingly three-putting to card just his second bogey all week, Bjerregaard was two shots ahead with nine holes to play.

The last time Bjerregaard was in the final group in the fourth round was in December's Alfred Dunhill Championship, when he collapsed to a closing 89 - including a back nine of 50 - to slump from second to 49th.

This time there would be no such collapse, but Bjerregaard was left to rue a back nine of 37 which featured wild drives on the 11th, 13th and 14th, the latter leading to a double-bogey six when his recovery attempt from the trees hit more timber.

Rose had birdied the 10th and 13th and after seeing his birdie attempt on the 14th lip out and leaving another on the 15th an inch short, holed from 12 feet on the 16th to claim a decisive two-shot lead with two holes to play.

The 35-year-old could afford to three-putt the 18th for only his third bogey of the week, mocking his timid par attempt by performing a chicken impression.