GS CALTEX MAEKYUNG RELATED STORIES GS Caltex Maekyung Open Preview Round 1: Locals in three way tie for lead Round 2: Korean quartet lead field at halfway Round 3: Battling Lee clings to two shot lead Round 4: Suk wins with 72nd hole birdie Final Scores & Prize Money Lee is people's champion as Suk wins ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Swedes sweep World Cup win Lin & Marksaeng near top 50 HK: Lin wins in 3-way playoff Asian Tour hits landmark 300 in HK Asian Tour releases 2009 schedule Report predicts 30% China golf growth GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Sweden win World Cup Internationals claim Lexus Cup Pampling wins in a playoff Choi wins Skins Game Amateur: EGU allow range finders

SH Choi hopes to shine again at age 51

Defending champion Choi Sang-ho hopes to shine and repeat his golden outing at the US$600,000 GS Caltex Maekyung Open starting on Thursday.

Choi lifts Maekyung in 2005

One year ago, Choi produced a scintillating performance and proved that old is gold when he brushed off some of Asia’s elite and became the oldest winner on the Asian Tour at the age of 50 years and 145 days.

His victory last year was on his home course at Nam Seoul Country Club but this year the Korean ace will be faced with a new venue and a determined pool of players at the Lakeside Country Club that include countryman Charlie Wi, who is currently ranked second on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, India’s latest star Shiv Kapur, last season’s Volvo Masters of Asia winner, Mahal Pearce of New Zealand, who finished tied fifth at the BMW Asian Open in China last week, and Thai prodigy Chinarat Phadungsil.

Wi, who won the Maybank Malaysian Open title in February, was the highest Asian finisher last week and is riding on good form as he is tipped to give Choi a run for his money in Korea.

“I have been playing well and hope to work on all aspects of my game as I will be gunning for a strong performance in Korea,” said Wi.

Similarly, Kapur is hungry for a second title on the Asian Tour after a dominant display in Thailand last year. Kapur, who sits in 11th position on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, has only missed the cut in one of the past nine events competed this season and will be riding on his consistent form to take him to the top.

Choi will be up against young gun Chinarat who emerged the youngest ever winner on the Asian Tour last year at the Double A International Open at the tender age of 17 years and five days.

The other strong contender is Australia’s Jarrod Lyle who has been enjoying a solid run the past couple of weeks.

In last year’s edition, it was a dominant performance for Choi who grabbed the first round lead with a superb six-under-par 66. The Korean led by three strokes going into the last round and never relinquished his lead, as he finished comfortably with a 10-under-par 278 total.

April 26, 2006