Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

CLUTCH PUTTS ON 18 SEE KOH MAKE IT WIN NUMBER THREE IN-FORM KOREAN BEATS FAST-CHARGING PHACHARA IN SUDDEN-DEATH Guntaek Koh [RIGHT] triumphed after making birdie on 18 twice, in regulation play and then extra-time. T he Shinhan Donghae Open is one of Korea’s biggest and most coveted titles, along with the country's National Open and the GS Caltex Maekyung Open – both of which are also on the Asian Tour schedule. It’s one of the events that every Korean wants to win and you could certainly see that in the eyes of Guntaek Koh, who won the event in 2023 at Ocean Course at Club72, located very close to Incheon International Airport. However, his determination was matched in equal measure by another young and talented star in the making, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai. The two fought a ferocious battle and much to the delight of the large and vocal home crowd in-form Koh made it a hat- trick of wins in Korea in 2023 when he beat Phachara on the first hole of a sudden- death play-off. Koh, joint overnight leader with Canadian Richard T. Lee, closed with a four-under-par 68, bravely matching the formidable clubhouse total of 19-under-par set by Phachara – who, playing in seventh from last group out and starting the day five off the lead, shot a remarkable 63. The Korean had to birdie the par- five 18th to catch his Thai opponent in regulation play, after hitting a brilliant third shot to three feet, and he then proceeded to make four again in the play- off, holing a 10-footer. On that final hole, Phachara, attempting to become the first Thai to have his name etched onto the trophy, had bravely tried to reach the green in two but it backfired and he found the lake in front of the green. Remarkably, he hit his fourth to 12 feet and drained the par putt forcing Koh to make his for the win, which he duly did, to the roar of the spectators. Koh’s brilliant finish showed why he had been the dominant player in Korea up until that point in the season. He was leading the Korean PGA Tour rankings having won the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open in April, and the Honors K Solarago 97 SH I NHA N DONGHA E OPEN OC E AN COU R S E AT C LU B 7 2 , I N CH EON , KO R E A | S E P T EMB E R 7 - 1 0 | P R I Z E MON E Y K RW 1 , 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ( A P P ROX I MAT E LY U S $ 1 . 0 5 M I L L I ON )