GS CALTEX MAEKYUNG OPEN RELATED STORIES GS Caltex Maekyung Open home page GS Caltex Maekyung Open Preview Round 1: Koreans dominate first day leaderboard Round 2: Oh moves one clear and eyes maiden win Round 3: Tight finish promised as Bae closes on home hat-trick Round 4: Bae completes home hat-trick in playoff Final Scores & Prize Money About the course Four to watch this week Hwang targets home title defence Wu Ashun growing in confidence 2008 flashback: Hwang denies Noh historic chance as he claims his maiden win MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Old Guard Show Form In Philippines Mike Kerr New Asian Tour CEO Nirat Eyes Title In Philippines 2012 Performance Stats Hiratsuka Hopes To Defend In Myanmar Sponsors Show Support For Philippine Open Champions Head To Myanmar 84 Players Make Final Stage

 Koreans dominate first day leaderboard

Korea’s Kim Jong-duk and Hu Suk-ho led the local charge by taking the first round lead with matching five-under-par 67s at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on Thursday.

Kim and Hu will head into the second round holding a slender one shot lead over compatriots Ted Oh and Park Hyo-won who are both are tied for third on 68.

Veteran Choi Sang-ho, who won the event in 2005, is among the mix in tied-fifth on 69 at the Nam Seoul Country Club.

Kim gave the local galleries the early cheers when he posted a bogey-free round that was highlighted by seven birdies.

The Korean, who is seeking his 10th win in Korea, posted birdies on the fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth holes. After embarking on his homeward run in 32, Kim registered further birdies on the 10th, 14th and 18th to stake a place at the top of the leaderboard.

“My tee shots were all hitting the fairways and my short game, especially my putting was very good today. I can’t ask for a better round on a day like this,” said Kim.

“Tomorrow’s a brand new day and I’ll continue to do my best and hopefully make amends for the disappointment in Japan,” added Kim who narrowly lost out on his fifth title in Japan after losing in a play-off at the Tsuruya Open a fortnight ago.

While Oh maybe based in California now, a homecoming to his place of birth is always special.

The 32-year-old made a quick charge up the leaderboard with an opening birdie. He followed that up with two more birdies on the fourth and eighth before starting his inward nine in33.

Oh continued his momentum with another birdie after the turn on the 10th. He looked set to be cruising towards a blemish-free round until a lone bogey on the 16th marred his card and caused him to slip down to tied-third

Oh quickly recovered with a birdie on the 17th before returning in 35 for a 68.

“It was good, very good. In the beginning I hit a lot of fairways and greens and got to four-under quickly. Coming down the stretch, I’ve got to work for it but I finished it off good and I’m very pleased with my round today,” said Oh.

“Hopefully, there can be a celebration on Sunday together with my friends and family who are here in Seoul with me this week,” added Oh.

Korean veteran Choi, who had earlier taken a share of the morning lead, rolled back to years to find himself among the contenders at the approximately US$470,000 Asian Tour event again.

The 54-year-old Korean was the oldest winner on the Asian Tour at the age of 50 years and 145 days when he won the event in 2005 and he is excited to back in contention for the title again.

“This is my home course where I've been the club pro for many years. It’s really nice to be back playing here and being in contention once again," said Choi.

South African rookie George Coetzee was also among the early pace setters when he battled to a 69 in the morning.

Coetzee, who teed off on the back-nine 10th, enjoyed the best of starts when he registered birdies on the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes before making the turn in 32.

The South African, however mixed three bogeys and two birdies in his homeward run to eventually settle for a share of the lead on 69.

“I’m feeling good about my game and I’m enjoying it. This is the first time I’m playing in Korea and I’m quite impressed with what I’ve seen. I’ve to keep playing well and continue to keep up with the leaders,” said Coetzee, who is eager to improve on his best finish of tied-12th at the Sail Open.

India’s Gaurev Ghei meanwhile had to withdraw from the event after 10 holes due to wrist injury while high fever forced compatriot, Anirban Lahiri to withdraw too.

The GS Caltex Maekyung Open, sanctioned with the Korean Golf Association is the ninth leg of this season’s Asian Tour and is also the second Asian Tour event in Korea.

Leading first round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

67 - Hu Suk-ho (KOR) , Kim Jong-duk (KOR)
68 - Park Hyo-won (KOR), Ted Oh (KOR)
69 - Jeong Youn-jin [A] (KOR), Kim Ok-chun (KOR), Kim Hyung-tae (KOR), Kodai Ichihara (JPN), George Coetzee (RSA), Choi Sang-ho (KOR), Byun Jin-jae [A] (KOR), Antonio Lascuna (PHI)
70 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Kim Hyung-sung (KOR)
71 - Iain Steel (MAS), Kim Dae-sub (KOR), Kim Do-hoon I (KOR), Lee Jun-seok (KOR), Mitchell Brown (AUS), Park Do-kyu (KOR), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Kang Kyung-nam (KOR), Song Jin-oh (KOR), Bae Sang-moon (KOR), Park Sang-hyun (KOR), Peter Cooke (AUS), Park Jeng-dea [A] (KOR)

May 14, 2009