Asian Tour: South Korea’s Bio Kim holds nerve at the last to win Maekyung Open, fellow countryman Cho Ming-yu second
- Wild drive on 18 sets up nervous finish for Kim, who claims maiden title on Asian Tour
- It was the second time the South Korean has won the event, after previously winning as 21-year-old a decade ago on the OneAsia Tour
The South Korean’s fourth round one-over par 72 left him 9-under overall, two shots clear of fellow South Korean Cho Ming-yu, on a day he lost a four-shot lead early at the Namseoul Country Club.
After a topsy-turvy front nine, Kim was three shots clear of the field standing on the 18th tee, but he carved his drive deep into the trees leaving him with no sight of the green.
However, he found a path back into play from a pile of leaves and secured a bogey five to seal his maiden win on tour, and lift the Maekyung Open trophy for a second time.
Cho, joint second overnight, had drawn level with Kim after seven, thanks to three birdies in four holes. But a bogey then double-bogey at the eighth and ninth derailed his challenge.
He eventually carded a one-under 70 to finish solo second, while Moon Kyung-jun shot a 67, the round of the day, to be a stroke further back in third.
A decade ago, Kim won the same tournament at the same course as a 21-year-old when the event was sanctioned by the now defunct OneAsia Tour.