Korean-American Seungsu Han claimed the jewel in the crown of Korean golf today after recording an astonishing wire-to-wire victory in the Kolon Korea Open.

On another hot and sunny day at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club he coolheadedly handled the pressure of front running from the get go to close with an even-par 71 for a six under par winning total and a commanding six-shot win over Korea’s Kyungnam Kang, who also carded a 71.

Korean Seungbin Choi claimed third, a shot further back, after shooting a 68 – the best round of the day, and one of only two sub-70 rounds, on the taxing Woo Jeong Hills track.

Han’s magnificent triumph also allowed him to secure one of the two spots on offer in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Kang took the other.

Any doubts that Han, who started today with a slim one-shot lead over Jaekyeong Lee from Korea, would succumb to the pressure were put to rest on the front nine when he made the turn with a five-shot lead, on seven under, ahead of Korean Junghwan Lee.

Kyungnam Kang. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.

It was just the cushion he was looking for despite an up-and-down front nine, consisting of three birdies and two bogeys. His lead was seven at one point on the back nine with the rest of the field going backwards while he was coasting.

He averted a potential disaster on the par-four 15th after a wayward tee shot left saw his ball finish in a terrible lie – in long, thick grass. Bravely opting not to take a drop he hit an explosive recovery shot back into play, reached the green with his third and to the roar of the crowd holed a 30-footer for an astonishing par save – affirming this was most certainly his week, and the greatest of his career so far.

His lead was cut to six on the ensuing hole after a bogey and by the 18th he was five ahead, but he put the icing on the cake by holing a six-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th.

“This is such a great honour,” said Han, the 36-year-old who was born in Incheon, Korea, but moved to the United States when he was 13, where he still lives, and first started to play in Asia back in 2010, enjoying most of his success in Japan.

“I was really struggling with foot pains and my throat wasn’t good either, so it was tremendously challenging.  I hardly look at the scores, maybe a few times. I didn’t look at it on purpose. It was about being mentally strong and my putting was great, I holed some long ones. 

“I first started playing in Korea when I was 13, so the Korea Open means a lot to me. I think it is the best tournament in Korea.”

Remarkably he was the only player to finish under par, and for his fine effort, he earned a cheque for US$222,222.

He becomes the 12th wire-to-wire winner of the tournament, and the seventh American to win after Ricky Fowler (2011), Edward Loar (2004), John Daly (2003), Mike Cunning (1994), Scott Hoch (1990 and 1991), and Orville Moody, who won the first three editions of the event starting in 1958.

Han’s six-shot winning margin also matched the record set by Fowler, based on records going back to 1996.

It is the biggest victory of his 14-year professional career, although his other wins were also significant: the Casio World Open in Japan in 2017, and the 2020 LG Signature Players Championship on the Korean PGA Tour.

He also enjoyed success in the amateur game, attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and winning the 2006 Porter Cup – a long-standing, prestigious amateur event in the United States won by some of the game’s biggest names, including Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ben Crenshaw.

Kyungnam Kang and Seungsu Han both qualified for The Open. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.

While it will be the second time he has played in a Major – he made the cut in the PGA Championship in 2018 – it will be Kang’s maiden appearance.

Defending champion Minkyu Kim of Korea returned a 73 to tie for fourth on two over par with countrymen Dongmin Lee, Jaekyeong Lee and Junghwan Lee, and Australian Brendan Jones – this year’s New Zealand Open champion.

This week’s KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,075,000) event was the 10th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

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Seungsu Han  held on to his lead in the Kolon Korea Open with a second-round 69 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, establish a healthy three-stroke lead on seven-under — and keeps his eyes firmly on the prize of a spot at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool that comes with victory.

The little-known American has daylight between himself, Korea’s Jaekyeong Lee in second and a group including Canada’s Richard T Lee, Australian Brendan Jones, Koreans Junghwan Lee and Jeongwoo Ham, and South Africa’s Ian Snyman in a tie for third, four behind the leader.

The leading two players on Sunday make it to the Open at Hoylake nest month.

“It was not easy because the course was so difficult,” said Han, who led with a 66 on day one and was in the second from last group out today.

“I can’t wait to go back and rest. The score is not so important, it’s that I played well for two days. I’m feeling a little bit of pain, but I’m trying not to worry about it. I think I’ll be fine after resting.”

Lee added: “I recorded birdies on the 17th hole for two consecutive days. I was lucky in both rounds. In the first round, I chipped in for birdie. And today my approach ball hit the ball of my playing partner Miguel Tabuena. I wish I have luck in the third and final rounds as well.

“I want to go to the Open Championship, too. I have been there as a spectator thanks to The KJ Choi Foundation once. I’ll be a player this time. I will be patient tomorrow.”

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Opening rounds of 69, 74 and 68 saw him in contention throughout the week and meant he was just three off the lead starting the final day in the country’s most-esteemed tournament, which has made its regular home at the Woo Jeong Hills venue since 2003.

Nitithorn, the young Thai star nicknamed “Fever” who was red-hot last year when he won both his Asian Tour titles — The DGC Open and the International Series Singapore — shot a six-over-par 77 on the last day after a calamitous run of holes from the eighth, which he double-bogeyed and followed up with six bogeys and no gains on the second half.

Much to his disappointment he tied for 22nd, eight shots behind the score that saw Koreans Minkyu Kim and Mingyu Cho tie for the lead to force a three-hole play-off, won by the former.

It also meant Nitithorn missed out on one of the two places available in The Open, something which is also a target for all the competitors this week, as the event is again part of The Open Qualifying Series.

However, the story does not end there.

Said Nitithorn: “When I woke up for the final round, I felt a bit sick, but still I had the patience that I could do it because my goal was to be at The Open. Unfortunately, I had a fever, but I played really well on the first seven holes, and I was really focused on my game.”

Having played the first seven holes in two-under, one of The Open tickets was within his grasp, but as his health struggled so did his score.

“I knew that I had to be like, super focused that day, because my body was not active,” he said. “But after the eighth hole where I made a double-bogey, it can happen but you… I don’t know how to say it, after eight holes I tried to be like, keep focused, keep patient, but my body wasn’t working anymore, not responding anymore. Like on the 14th tee I said to my caddie, I cannot walk anymore. But OK, just hit it until I finish, that’s all I could do at that time.”

The reason for the unfortunate turn of events was soon to be revealed.

Said Nitithorn: “Yeah, I went to do a test after the round, I tested positive for COVID-19, so I felt so sorry for everyone. I felt bad that I didn’t play as well as I expected, but I had already done my best, you know. So yeah, I had already done my best and had a good chance to be at The Open, but this year maybe I can do it.”

This week he is fully committed to taking his revenge on the difficult Woo Jeong Hills layout, encouraged by his T11 at the Maekyung Open at Nam Seoul Country Club in Korea earlier this season.

“The first year that I played in Korea, even the Maekyung Open, the course is quite difficult. But for me, I really love difficult courses because you have to hit the ball in the fairway, and you have to be patient on every shot,” said the 26 year old.

“I got beaten by the course on the first year, so I just said to myself that’s OK, next time I’ll beat it. This year, I have already beaten Nam Seoul so I’m gonna try to beat Woo Jeong Hills, that’s my goal.”

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The new Hong Kong event, to be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from March 23-26, will see the four leading players not otherwise exempt earn a place in The 151st Open —which will be held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, from July 20-23.

At Korea’s national Open, which will be staged at Woo Jeung Hills Country Club from June 22-25, two places will be up for grabs in the major.

“This is great validation of the strength of the players who compete week in and week out on the Asian Tour,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“Playing in major championships is undoubtedly one of the goals that every player sets at the beginning of each season. Having the opportunity to qualify on two separate occasions on the Asian Tour gives our members a prime opportunity to achieve this.

“Sadom Kaewkanjana’s 11th place finish in The Open last year and the ascendancy of Tom Kim at that same event are prime examples of players taking advantage of The Open Qualifying Series in the Asian region.”

The news is a boon for the organisers of the World City Championship, an event being staged to celebrate the opening up of Hong Kong after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Hong Kong Golf Club is renowned by players and fans alike for its historic atmosphere, natural beauty, and challenging Composite Course, we welcome The R&A awarding of the World City Championship with The Open Qualifying Series status,” said Andy Kwok, Captain, the Hong Kong Golf Club.

“With four places at golf’s original Major on offer, Hong Kong galleries can look forward to another top-flight field assembling in Fanling.

“For our part, we look forward to once again hosting the top players in the game, visitors from around the world, and thousands of members of the Hong Kong public, as we open what promises to be a milestone season of international events at the Hong Kong Golf Club in 2023.”

In total 15 events in nine countries make up the OQS for 2023, which started at the Joburg Open and will be end at the Genesis Scottish Open.

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