Scott Hend, a 41-year-old journeyman professional from Australia, collected his first title on the European Tour at the Hong Kong Open.

Hend, a seasoned professional, held alternative membership status on the European Tour and has played on all the major tours around the world. He was a member of the PGA Tour in 2004 and 2005, but most recently has been a member of the Asian Tour.

His win this week in the European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned Hong Kong Open will give him full membership and exemptions into all European Tour events through 2015.

Hend has five career wins in minor professional tournaments in Australia and Canada. Since 2008, he has six wins on the Asian Tour.

It wasn’t easy for the long-hitting Aussie. After posting a final-round five-under-par, he finished tied with Filipino Angelo Que’ at 13-under-par.

Both men returned to No. 18 for the playoff. Que’ could only manage a bogey and Hend’s par was good enough for the win.

Hend started the week at No. 289 on the Official World Golf Ranking and will move inside the top-130 after this week.

The €171,842 first-place check is important for the veteran, but exemptions into European Tour events through 2015 and an improved ranking on the Race to Dubai will give him a shot at the bonus pool money at the end of the season.

Ernie Els held the lead after 36 holes in Hong Kong, but rounds of 71-69 on the weekend left him tied for fifth along with the third-round leader Marcus Fraser, who struggled to a final round 72.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who had won the Hong Kong Open the last two consecutive years, failed to make the 36-hole cut this year.   

The Hong Kong Open was first established in 1959. Tournament officials confirmed this week that it would be played October 22-25, 2015, be contested once again at iconic Fanling and continue to be co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.