49th KOLON-Hana Bank Korea Open - Round 4: Yang triumphs in Kolon-Hana Bank Korea

Korea's Yang Yong-eun claimed a maiden victory at the US$700,000 Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open with a three-stroke triumph after a closing one-under-par 70 on Sunday.

Yang, who has won four titles on the Japan Tour, completed his dominating performance with a four-day winning total of 14-under-par 270 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club. He walked away with the top prize of US$205,128.

Compatriot Kang Ji-man shot an identical 70 as he stole lone second position. India’s Rahil Gangjee hung on to finish joint third as he fired a 68 alongside Korea’s Kang Kyung-nam who struggled to a 72. American David Oh also claimed joint third place as he carded a 67.

Yang said: “I’m very happy to win this title. My last Korean title was four years ago at the SBS Championship. It was such a long time since I’ve won on home soil so I am delighted.”

South African Retief Goosen, winner of two US Open titles, finished in joint sixth spot alongside Thai ace Thaworn Wiratchant and Korea’s Nam Young-woo who all fired matching 70s. Another Thai sensation Chapchai Nirat blasted his best score on the final day with a 66 as he finished in ninth place.

“I love the golf course but I just did not play well enough. Every time I got something going, I get a double bogey,” said Goosen.

“I did not hit the ball well off the tee in the past three rounds and I was struggling the entire way,” he said.

The US PGA Tour’s longest hitter Bubba Watson recovered from his poor third round performance as he ended the final day with a 70 and finished in tied 10th place.

Fending off the challenge on the final day, Yang did not have the best of starts when he dropped a shot at the fourth hole but he bounced back with a birdie at the par five eighth hole. On the back nine, he birdied the 10th hole but endured a second bogey at the following hole.

But thanks to solid putting, he extended his lead at the top with a 12 foot birdie putt at the 15th hole. The Korean, who won the Suntory Open in Japan two weeks ago, had a steady finish on the par five 18th green when his third shot landed firmly on the green 30 feet away from the pin. He left the ball inches away from the hole in his fourth shot as he then tapped in for par and claimed his first Asian Tour title.

“In this tournament, I also beat some top class players so that was a confidence booster for me. The key hole today was the birdie at the 15th hole. I stroked it gentle into the hole and after that, I knew I was close to the title.

“This golf course does not favour long hitters but good putting and accuracy off the tee is the key,” said Yang..

Gangjee, winner of the 2004 Volkswagen Masters – China, turned on the heat in the final round with five birdies after 15 holes but he endured a sluggish finish when he dropped a shot at the 17th hole. He then found water on the 18th hole for his second bogey of the day.

“I’m very happy because it is my best finish this season on the Asian Tour. But I am unhappy with my bogeys on the last two holes. I am satisfied with my game and hope to get more top fives and maybe even a win soon,” said Gangjee.

The strong run on the final day proved crucial for Gangjee as the 27-year-old Calcutta-born talent moved up to 29th place on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit.

After finishing with a 68, Scottish sensation Simon Yates was all smiles as he shot an albatross at the par five fifth hole. His drive left him 227 yards away from the pin and his second shot with a four iron rolled straight into the cup. It is the third albatross recorded on the Asian Tour this season. Yates finished in tied 26th spot.

Leading final round scores
270 - Yang Yong-eun (KOR) 65-67-68-70
273 - Kang Ji-man (KOR) 67-63-73-70
275 - Rahil Gangjee (IND) 70-70-67-68, David Oh (USA) 74-66-68-67, Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-63-72-72
276 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-66-71-70, Nam Young-woo (KOR) 66-69-71-70, Retief Goosen (RSA) 65-72-69-70
277 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 71-71-69-66
278 - Noh Seung-yul [A] (KOR) 69-67-73-69, Bubba Watson (USA) 67-66-75-70, Kwon Myung-Ho (KOR) 66-69-69-74
279 - Lu Wei-Chih (TPE) 73-67-73-66, Choi Hyun (KOR) 68-70-72-69, Kim Do-hoon I [A] (KOR) 70-67-69-73
280 - Lee Jin-won (KOR) 67-72-72-69, Park Young-soo (KOR) 70-71-74-65, Shin Yong-jin (KOR) 67-68-74-71, Kong Young-joon (KOR) 67-72-69-72, Chung Joon (KOR) 68-66-70-76

September 24, 2006

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