Asian Tour: Sihwan Kim claims maiden title at Black Mountain as top-ranked Ko Jin-young wins HSBC Women’s crown
- After eight top-four placings on the Asian Tour, the 33-year-old Kim finally emerges a winner, taking him to the top of the Order of Merit
- Ko has won six times in her past 10 starts and her round set the LPGA Tour’s all-time record for most consecutive rounds in the 60s, of 15
American Sihwan Kim secured his first victory as a professional after more than a decade of waiting after claiming Asian Tour’s International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin on Sunday.
In Singapore, world No 1 Ko Jin-young birdied the 18th hole for a 6-under 66 to win the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women’s World Championship by two strokes over fellow South Korean player Chun In-gee and Australian Minjee Lee.
The in-form 33-year-old Kim, who has been in the final pairing on Sunday at three of the past six Asian Tour events, fired an inspired nine-under-par 63 to beat Thailand’s great hope of the future Phachara Khongwatmai by two strokes.
Phachara, the overnight leader chasing his second Tour victory, had no answer to Kim’s round and shot a 68. South African Ian Snyman and Itthipat Buranatanyarat, from Thailand, finished two shots further back tied for third after rounds of 64 and 67 respectively.
Kim, who turned professional in 2011, has recorded eight top-four results on the Asian Tour since 2018, including two runner-up finishes.