Noh Seung-yul earns a place in The Open
March 11, 2010

South Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul booked a place at his first major championship when he finished tied for second at the British Open international final qualifying (Asia) on Thursday.

The 18-year-old fired a four-under-par 68 to finish the 36-hole event on 10 under, a shot behind winner Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in the Malaysian capital.

“I’m really happy but honestly it hasn’t settled in yet,” Noh said in an Asia Tour news release. “It has been a great two weeks for me but I’m not going to let it get to my head.”

Noh, who became the youngest professional winner of a European Tour event when he won the co-sanctioned Malaysian Open on Sunday, will compete at the Old Course, St Andrews, from July 15-18 in the 150th running of the championship.

“I’m more experienced now after last week and that has certainly carried over to this week. I treat every tournament the same and I’m looking forward to playing against the world’s best,” Noh said.

Danny Chia of Malaysia finished joint second alongside Noh, with South Korean amateur Eric Chun holing a four-foot birdie putt on the last to complete the four qualifiers from the 78-man event.

“I have never been so nervous in my life,” Chun said in reference to his putt on the last which broke a tie with three others. “I’m just happy it worked out well.”