Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

Kim rises to Stableford challenge Players praise innovative format I t’s amazing what one win can do for a player’s self- esteem and confidence. Just ask Sihwan Kim. Frequently in contention since turning professional in 2011, he’d been unable to take that final step and cross the finishing line in first place. All that changed in the first week of March, 2022, when the American emerged triumphant at the International Series Thailand. The shackles were removed. Playing with a new-found swagger fuelled by that success, the 33-year-old needed only another six weeks to add a second title to his name at the inaugural Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge. Sihwan Kim’s (RIGHT) victory was his second of the year. 53 My putting has been phenomenal. That’s pretty much what got me through. I putted the lights out. -SIHWAN KIM Kim’s victory in the Asian Tour’s first Modified Stableford scoring event – jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour (LET) – owed much to an inspired putting display. “My putting has been phenomenal. That’s pretty much what got me through. I putted the lights out,” said Kim, whose tally of 49 points over the four rounds secured him a two-point winning margin from 22-year-old Swede Maja Stark. Displaying a magical touch with the short stick, Kim had a sense that this could be another winning week when he snared a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course as darkness descended on the opening day. Coming just as the hooter sounded to bring an end to the day’s play, that effort meant he signed for a 10-under 62 that translated into a 22-point haul, propelling him into the clubhouse lead. Much of that good work was undone when he soared to a 76 (minus-two) on day two before bouncing back with an 11-birdie 61 (22 points) in the third round, building an eight-point advantage. But winning, as Kim can attest, is never easy. And so it proved as he saw his final-day lead dwindle to two points from playing partner Stark at the turn. T R U S T G O L F A S I A N M I X E D S TA B L E F O R D C H A L L E N G E S IAM COUNTRY C LUB , WATE R S I DE COU R S E | AP R I L 13 -1 6 | P R IZE MON E Y US$750,0 0 0