Young South Korean Bae Sang-moon thrilled local fans yesterday as he squeezed out Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter and Anthony Kim to win the US$1 million Korea Open.
The South Korean carded a final round two-under 69 to finish with a 11-under 273 total, one shot ahead of Englishman Poulter (70) who faltered over the closing holes at the Woo Jeong Country Club in Seoul.
Poulter's Ryder Cup rival and rising star Anthony Kim (71) finished joint third, two shots off the lead, along with South Korean Kim Wi-joong (72).
Bae, 22, collected US$240,000 for his exploits, climbing to fifth on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit. The win came just a year after his maiden victory on the Asian Tour.
"I'm extremely happy and I don't think I've realized the magnitude of my win. I'm very proud of myself," said Bae who finished with pars over the final eight holes.
"The birdie on the 10th hole kept my momentum going for the day. That birdie gave me the confidence needed to keep it going in the closing holes."
Poulter, runner-up at the 2008 British Open, bogeyed the 16th and 18th holes to blow his lead. "I came here to win but I am going home second, so I'm not very happy. But it's nice to come here with so many fans and I'm glad I could show them some good golf this week."
American Anthony Kim, part of the victorious US team at last month's Ryder Cup, was eager to win in his ancestral home, but his growing reputation was untarnished by a good showing.
In Verona, New York, Charles Howell III birdied the 18th and fellow American Tag Ridings bogeyed the last for a two-shot swing that left the duo tied for the lead after the Turning Stone Resort Championship third round on Saturday.
Howell finished with a three-under-par 69 for an eight-under 208 total while Ridings's three-putt bogey gave him a 71.
One stroke adrift were Australian Jason Day, who eagled the par-five 18th for a 71, Briton Brian Davis (69) and Americans Kyle Thompson (69) and overnight leader Jeff Overton (73).
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October 6, 2008)
