Bio Kim’s journey to a first Asian Tour title was anything but smooth on Sunday, with a wild drive on the final hole contributing to a nervy finish at the Maekyung Open. 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. Bio Kim 🇰🇷 has been knocking on the door for a first win on Tour. The door finally opened for him at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today 👏 He will celebrate his first Tour victory 🏆 with his mother and wife on Mother's Day ❤️ #MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/IAlDpiMeO6 — Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) May 8, 2022 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. “Today was quite tough and I was struggling on a few holes and lost concentration,” said Kim. “But I’m really happy to win.” The 31-year-old was roared to victory by thousands of golf-starved fans who had been allowed into a tournament for only the second time since the coronavirus pandemic began. Kim’s winner’s cheque of $255,537 moves him to second in the Asian Tour order of merit, $57,338 behind American Sihwan Kim who has amassed $460,325 from the six tournaments played so far in the 2022 season. The Asian Tour heads to Japan next week for the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup at Oarai Golf Club.