Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

Taehoon is more than Ok! Young Korean made to work hard for first win I t is a mark of respect and recognition that, in its inaugural season, the International Series quickly made Korea one of its first places to visit. And the ‘Land of Morning the Calm’ and land of fine golfing pedigree and pastures did not disappoint when the International Series Korea was played at Lotte Skyhill Country Club – located not on the mainland but on Jeju Island, an exciting departure where Koreans take their vacations and honeymoons. When Korean star Bio Kim took a share of the lead on day two, he summed up the atmosphere of the week. He said: “It feels like a fun week. My family is here, which is just great. It’s a family trip which allows me to get away from golf a bit. I think I was thinking too much the past month, it shows I should do this a little more often.” Victory in Korea was Taehoon Ok’s (FAR LEFT/RIGHT) first since turning professional. 89 I asked my caddie on 17 if he really thought I can birdie 18 and he said, ‘go for it’. – TAEHOON OK. I N T E R N AT I O N A L S E R I E S K O R E A LOT TE S K Y H I L L COUNTRY C LUB, J E J U I S L AND | AUGUST 1 8 -21, 2022 | P R IZE MON E Y US$1 . 5 M I L LI ON A winner in Korea on the Asian Tour at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May and having also claimed the SK Telecom Open, a Korean PGA Tour event, on Jeju Island two months before, at a different venue, he was one of the favourites to see it through to Sunday in first place. However, the player he shared the lead with, compatriot Taehoon Ok, was to have the biggest say in how the week was to be concluded. The 23 year old’s zero wins stat versus Bio’s nine professional victories did not look good on paper but manifested itself in an unbelievable desire to win. He was also determined to make amends for his performance in the Kolon Korea Open in June, where he was tied for the lead after the third round but carded a disappointing 75 on the final day to place joint sixth. That followed an equal fifth finish in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, indicating it could be a season of significant change. His bid to win for the first time gathered momentum when he took the third-round lead by one from his countrymen Wooyoung Cho, one of the country’s top amateurs, Yoseop Seo and Bio. Cho, aged 20, lit up the tournament with a 10-under-par 61 – which proved to be the best round of the week. It was also the lowest 18-hole score of the season at that point, but as preferred lies were deployed it could not count officially.