Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

Bio’s happy hunting ground Korean breaks Asian Tour duck Bio Kim (FAR LEFT/ ABOVE) lives just 20 minutes from Namseoul. 59 It took all of me to win. I tried to stay in the present, clear my mind and not to think about things too much. -BIO KIM T H E 4 1 S T G S C A LT E X M A E K Y U N G O P E N NAMS EOU L COUNTRY C LUB | MAY 5 - 8 , 2022 | P R IZE MON E Y K RW 1 , 200,000,000 (AP P ROXI MATE LY US$99 0,000) I t was in 2012 that Bio Kim raced to a five-stroke success in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open. In the process, he underlined his billing as one of Asia’s great golfing hopes. Then aged 21, Kim’s stunning victory at the venerable Namseoul Country Club was the springboard, many predicted, for a glittering career. A decade on, Kim had not yet fulfilled his potential and was still awaiting a maiden Asian Tour title. However, as he prepared for a nostalgic return to Namseoul for the 41st edition of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, there were plenty of encouraging signs. On the back of an impressively consistent six- month period, Kim was trending upwards, flying high on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and 169th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). No wonder he was widely tipped among the pre- tournament favourites for the seventh leg of the 2022 Asian Tour in an event revered as one of the jewels in the crown of tournament golf in his home country. And he did not disappoint. Roared on by a large final-day gallery, Kim carded a closing one-over- par 72 to win on nine-under, two shots ahead of fellow-Korean Mingyu Cho, who shot a 70, but was left to rue a two-stroke penalty. Leading since round two, Kim started the final day with a four-shot advantage. After seven holes, though, he found himself sharing top spot with Cho. But Kim regained the lead when his playing partner bogeyed the eighth. Kim then made a four at the long ninth to turn for home two in front – a position that would further improve when an unfortunate situation concerning Cho came to light. While playing his third shot at the ninth, Cho stepped foot on the hole’s second green, unaware that he should have taken a drop. It was an error for which he was docked two shots – a cruel and decisive blow to his chances. From that point, Kim cruised home, disrupted only by a minor scare on 18 when he sliced his tee shot into the trees and made bogey. “It took all of me to win. Namseoul is very difficult. As I’ve been doing all week, and all year, I tried to stay in the present, clear my mind and not to think about things too much, like my four-shot lead on the back nine,” said Kim for whom there was additional poignancy as the victory came on Children and Parents’ Day. “I have a lot to thank my parents for. If my parents didn’t raise me well, I wouldn’t be here. I’m trying to be a great son and a head of the family,” added the father-of-two, whose win saw