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ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
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Choi is oldest winner with Maekyung triumph
 Korean
veteran Choi Sang-ho thwarted a brave bid by Thaworn Wiratchant
of Thailand to lift the US$500,000 Maekyung Open title by three
strokes on Sunday.
Overnight leader Choi completed his sensational wire-to-wire triumph
with a final round of two-under-par 70 which gave him a four-day
winning aggregate of 10-under-par 278 at Nam Seoul Country Club.
Choi's victory, worth US$98,000, made him the oldest winner on the
Asian Tour at the age of 50 years and 145 days. Thaworn finished
second following a 70 while Korea's Sung Si-woo came in third on
282. Korean amateur Kim Kyung-tae and Kim Hyung-tae shared fourth
place, a further two strokes back.
Australian Marcus Both and Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit closed with
matching 71s to be amongst those sharing sixth place on 285.
Trailing by three strokes heading into the final round, Thaworn
reduced the lead to one on the seventh hole but the experienced
Choi hung on doggedly to clinch a famous home victory in front of
massive crowds.
Thaworn's consolation was a runner-up cheque of US$61,274, which
saw him replace compatriot Thongchai Jaidee at the top of the Asian
Tour Order of Merit with US$326,229.
Choi was ecstatic to savour success on his home course. "I
was very nervous as Thaworn and Sung were catching up on me. After
finding the fairway on the 18th hole, only then was I confident
of winning the title.
"This is my home course where I've been the club pro for 15
years. After taking the first round lead, I was very anxious and
couldn't eat or sleep well this week. It is really nice to win,"
said Choi.
Thaworn started his day with a bogey on the first but began his
title charge with birdies on the third, fourth and seventh holes
to narrow the gap to one stroke. However, a crucial bogey on the
par three 11th by Thaworn proved decisive. Choi regained a two-shot
edge and the local favourite then ran off birdies on the 13th and
17th holes to clinch victory.
"I gave it a chance and was happy to birdie the 18th hole which
gave me outright second. I played with two top Koreans today and
it was difficult as the crowds were really behind them. But I played
nicely and I'm happy to become the new Order of Merit leader,"
said the Thai.
It was a glorious final round which saw Singapore-based Australian
Scott Barr adding to the excitement. He shot an albatross on the
par five fourth hole en route to a 70, the first on the Asian Tour
in nearly two years.
Hong Chia-yuh of Chinese Taipei was the last player to shoot one
of the rarest birds in golf at the Maekyung Open two years ago.
Leading final round scores
278 - Choi Sang-ho (KOR) 66-70-72-70
281 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-71-69-70
282 - Sung Si-woo (KOR) 72-70-70-70
284 - Kim Kyung-tae [A] (KOR) 71-69-74-70, Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 70-74-69-71
285 - Park No-seok (KOR) 72-74-71-68, Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 72-74-70-69,
Marcus Both (AUS) 71-70-73-71, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 72-71-71-71
286 - Alistair Presnell (AUS) 73-76-70-67, Moon Ji-wook (KOR) 72-74-72-68,
Kang Ji-man (KOR) 70-74-70-72
287 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 75-71-73-68, Chung Joon (KOR) 70-76-74-67
288 - Nam Young-woo (KOR) 72-76-71-69, Hur In-hoi [A] (KOR) 74-69-71-74,
Edward Loar (USA) 73-70-69-76, Amandeep Johl (IND) 72-71-70-75
289 - Choi Ho-sung (KOR) 75-71-72-71, Choi Gwang-soo (KOR) 71-74-73-71,
Kang Wook-soon (KOR) 73-74-70-72, Simon Yates (SCO) 75-69-73-72,
Alejandro Quiroz (MEX) 70-72-73-74, Larry Austin (AUS) 76-73-72-68,
Kong John-joon (KOR) 73-71-71-74, David Oh (USA) 71-71-73-74, Park
Do-kyu (KOR) 72-70-73-74
290 - Andrew Pitts (USA) 72-74-72-72, Yoo Jong-koo (KOR) 74-75-71-70,
Jun Tae-hyun (KOR) 76-72-73-69
May 29, 2005
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