Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

Kim prevails after three-hole play-off Quirk of fate denies Cho T o the victor the spoils. With a mature final- round display and an explosive extra-time finish, Minkyu Kim grabbed the glory at the 64th edition of the Kolon Korea Open. Four years after making global headlines with victory in the D+D Real Czech Challenge to become the European Challenge Tour’s youngest winner at the age of 17, Kim finally triumphed on home soil for the first time. “I can’t believe I’ve actually won,” said Kim, who had posted seven top-10s in his previous 10 starts. “I’ve come close to winning before (in Korea) and I wondered if I would ever win. I felt good on the back nine and started to feel I had a chance.” While 21-year-old Kim celebrated his success at the notoriously demanding Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, it was difficult not to spare a thought for Mingyu Cho. Twelve years Kim’s senior and a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Cho was left to fathom how another significant triumph eluded him after two bites at the cherry. Three shots ahead of Kim in a share of the third- round lead with fellow-Korean Taehoon Ok, Cho had a 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole of regulation to overhaul clubhouse leader Kim, who had surged to the top of the standings with a closing 69. Minkyu Kim (ABOVE) triumphed after a three- hole play-off. 73 I can’t believe I’ve actually won. I’ve come close to winning before (in Korea) and I wondered if I would ever win. -MINKYU KIM With his courageous effort narrowly missing the cup, Cho signed for a one-over 72, matching Kim’s 72-hole aggregate of four-under 280, a score illustrating the degree of difficulty of the course. Despite the disappointment of failing to close the deal, a play-off with Kim presented Cho with a second opportunity to add his name to the illustrious list of past Korea Open champions, including YE Yang, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and John Daly. Once more, though, fortune would conspire against Cho. K O L O N T H E 6 4 T H K O R E A O P E N G O L F C H A M P I O N S H I P WOO J EONG H I LL S COUNTRY C LUB | J UN E 2 3 -26 , 2022 | P R IZE MON E Y K RW 1 , 3 50,0 0 0,0 0 0 (AP P ROX . US$1 ,058 ,03 1)