Fila Open
Tae Young Country Club
Seoul, Korea
20th - 23rd May 1998

 

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Former junior star challenges Koreans

Seoul, 21st May - Venezuelan Gilberto Morales, who recorded a famous victory over Tiger Woods in the World Junior Championship, showed his mettle in the men's game today in the Fila Open on the Asian PGA's Omega Tour.

In the face of stiff Korean opposition, 22-year-old Morales, fired a two-under-par 70 in the second round at Tae Young Country Club to lie three off the lead being set by Korean Kim Wan-tae.

Kim Wan-tae, returned a 68, for a two-round aggregate of 10-under-par 134 to lie two ahead of Korean Kim Hong-sik, in with a 70. Morales, who has been tutored by the world's most well-known golf coach David Leadbetter for the past seven years, started brilliantly by birdieing three of his first four holes and made the turn in three-under-par 33 to position himself strongly in the tournament.

"I have been in Asia for most of this year trying to gain tournament experience and make myself a stronger player mentally," said Morales, who lives in Miami, Florida.

The beefy Venezuelan first hit the headlines in 1992 when he beat Woods in the under-17 age group category at the World Junior Championship in San Diego. Woods had monopolised the tournament winning every age group section until Morales stopped him in what is the last age group category.

"It seems like a long time ago now but at the time I just couldn't believe I had beat him (Woods). I am back in the real world now, however, trying to get my foot in the door of the big time," said Morales, who finished second in the Macau Open three weeks ago.

Kim Wan-tae, like Morales, is looking for his first win as a professional although the Korean, aged 36, has been searching for much longer. "I hit the ball so sweetly today and only missed three greens," said Kim Wan-tae, who fired four birdies.

The Korean leader, however, could not match the accuracy of his compatriot Dragon Lee and India's Amritinder Singh. Both players aced the 206-yard par-three third with six irons. Unfortunately no prizes were available but it helped Lee to a 69 and Singh to a 68.

Korean Choi Kyung-ju, one of the favourites to win this week having claimed the 1996 and 1997 Korean PGA Tour Money List titles, also returned a 68 and lies tied with Morales.