'Gentleman of golf world' Retief Goosen on the lead with Yang Yong Eun scoring 6 under par 'Gentleman of golf world' Retief Goosen went on the lead on the 1st round of KOLON-Hana Bank's 49th Korea Open scoring 65hits 6 under par.
He took the lead with Yang Yong Eun (34, gauge design) in the game held on the 21st of September at Choongnam Chunansi Woojeong hills country club (par 71, 7,086 yard) by scoring chip shot eagle and 4 birdies in the 1st round.
Renowned for his precision play that grabbed him two championships in the US Open, Goosen at Woojeong hills country club showed a crafted play and gained applauses from many galleries.
At the 4th hole (par 3, 175yard), Goosen placed the ball on the green with Iron number 5 and succeeded in a 7m long buddy putt that placed him into a superior position. At the 6th hole (par 4, 330yard), the ball hit by a driver went through the green, rolled and fell to the grass bunker behind. However the 15m long chip shot sucked into the hall directly, making a chip in eagle that reduced two scores at once. Following, he added another birdie at hole number 8 (par 5, 538 yard), finishing the first half scoring 4 under par.
At the latter half, Goosen made another 1.5m birdies at 11th (par 4, 494 yard) and 14th (par 4, 424 yard) holes that brought him into 6 under par lead.
At the interview after the game, Goosen stated "The condition of the course was outstanding and the pin wasn't too difficult that I could reduce my scores. Though my shots were fine today, I could have reduced the score a bit more. I'm confident to make a better score tomorrow as long as my putt supports me" and showed confidence about the game.
Yang Yong Eun, the dual lead scoring 65 hits 6 under par made 7 birdies and 1 bogey on this day. He only made a slight mistake this day at the 18th hole (par 5, 561 yard) by making a bogey, but could overcome into winning the game from the confidence earned at the first round. Yang Yong Eun said "I wanted to play good in a Korean game after a long time. I feel so good get good scores. I hope to play the remaining rounds just like today."
At 7:24 in the morning this day, the 'monster' Bubba Watson(28, U.S.A) grabbed all the attention of the gallery from the start at the 10th hole with his long-range artillery. Watson exploded various over-300 yard driver shots and dominated his co-players Yang Yong Eun, Kang Kyung Nam (23, Samwha savings bank). Watson showed what a real long-range 'artillery' is about to Yang Yong Eun who is always prominent for his long driver shots. Watson's shot exceeded 50 yards further than yang's.
Nam young woo (33, Jisan resort), last year's champion who recovered after a long slump was ranked dual 3rd position by playing 5 under par along Lee Joong Hoon (21, Nikent), Kwon Myung Ho (22, Samhwa savings bank), Simon Yetchs (36, Scotland).
Kang Ji Man (31, Donga membership), last year's champion for Shinhan East-Sea Open was ranked 7th, scoring 4 under par.
Kong Young Joon(37, Hanhwa Pharmacy), Clay divers (39, U.S.A), Shin Yong Jin(37,LG fashion), Lee Jin Won(28, Donga membership) titled their respective names after. Choi Ho Seong (33, Sanhwa savings bank), who started to gain attention from last year gave up the game due to wrist injury. Park Nam Sin (47, Seokgyo corporation), Kwon Oh Chul (50), Ye Ting Ching (39, Taiwan) also gave up their games.
Kang Ji Man leads individual by achieving the course record
'Woojeong hill's prodigy' Kang Ji Man (30, Donga membership) took the lead on the 2nd round of the 49th KOLON-Hana Bank (total prize 700million won) by achieving the course record.
On the 2nd round game held on the 22nd at Choong-nam chunan province Woojeong hills country club (par 71, 7,086 yard), Kang Ji Man replaced the record made by Choi Kwang Soo (46, Donga pharmacy), 7 under par 64 hits by scoring 1 eagle, 7 birdies, 1 bogey 63 hits 8 under par. Powered by making the course record, Kang Ji Man could make champion again after last time's Shinhan east-sea open by playing 12 under par 130 hits solo lead.
He stated "I'm very satisfied for playing a perfect game except for the last hole bogey. I could make all the birdie chances and take care of every moments of crisis that was the potential for good scores."
Kang Ji Man's tee off started at the 10th hole on this day. He expressed confidence and maximum talent on his shots and putting by making a delightful 5m approach on a 232 yard second shot that connected into an eagle.
On this day, Kang Kyung Nam (23, Samhwa savings bank) always led a fair course record by making 8 birdies without a single bogey. However, he had to be satisfied for record tie for starting 3and half hours late at the game. Through this day's active play, Kang Ji Man could look forward for his life's first major tournament championship by taking the 2nd lead playing 11 under par.
Kang Kyung Nam stated after game "My strategy of making birdie in a relatively easy hole and trying to maintain that score in tough courses met that resulted a good score."
On of previous day's dual lead Yang Yong Eun (34, gauge design) made 3rd position by playing 10 under par 132 hits. He reduced 4 hits on this day, but his mistake of making a bogey on a par 5 8thhole was sorry to see.
Invitational player 'monster' Bubba Watson (28, U.S.A) made strong progression scoring 5 under par 66 hits. Concentrating on his long-range shots, Watson employed a remarkable play by maintaining 60 hits range score, recording 5 birdies. He also was extravagant in complimenting his co-player Kang Kyung Nam by saying "his driving distance is a bit shorter than other players, but his putting is excellent."
In the other hand, previous day's dual lead 'gentleman of golf world' Goosen (37, South Africa) could not proceeded the game well scoring 1over par 72 hits. He started off instable from the start by making a bogey and his specialty of precision play did not come out throughout the entire game that placed him on the 13th.
Goosen on a interview about the game said "After today's game is over, I hope to see more than 5 shots difference between the lead. If I can score low tomorrow, I still have hopes for reversion on Sunday's game."
This day's cutoff was decided at 1 over par 143 hits, accepting 64 players to the main game. 8 out of 64 were amateurs, and the remaining were professionals. The amateurs showed strong progression.
Year 2004's rookie Lee Jong Hoon (21, Nikent) was ranked 4th together with Bubba Watson and Jung Joon (34) was ranked single 6th position. 'Thailand's power' Tawon wirachangth, Shin Yong Jin (37, LG fashion), Nam Young Woo (33, Jisan resort), Kwon Myung Ho (22, Samhwa savings bank) were ranked 7th together.
Yang Yong Eun, on the lead with 3 score difference with 2nd rank group Yang Yong Eun (34, Gauge Design) is looking forward for his first Korea Open championship after leading 3 scores at the 3rd round of the 49th KOLON-Hana bank Korea Open.
Yang Yong Eun was behind 2 scores before starting the 3rd round to Kang Ji Man (30, Donga membership). He scored 5 birdies, 2 bogeys 3 under par 68 hits that brought him up to single lead with total scores of 200 hits 13 under par.
The 3rd round tournament held at Choongnam chunan province Woojeong hills country club (par 71, 7,086 yard) on the 22nd.
Yang started off nice and easy by making a birdie, but seemed to get further away from the lead after two consecutive bad lucks of making bare-ground approach on the 2nd and 4th holes. However, he succeeded on a 11m putt on the 6th hole, recording a birdie and regained his senses of game that led him to finish the game as a single lead adding 3 more birdies.
Previous day's lead Kang Ji Man lost 2 scores on this day, recording 10 under par 202 hits that placed him on the 2nd position together with Kang Kyung Nam (23, Samhwa savings bank). On this day's game, Kang scored 4 over par 40 hits in the first half round, but could reduce another 2 scores without bogey that gave him hope for the next day's game.
On the interview, Kang Ji Man said "I encountered some problems controlling my physical conditions due to last night's lack of sleep. I feel relieved that I could recover my condition and did not lose many points. I think I will be able to grab a good opportunity if I can manage my physical condition tomorrow" and showed a strong will till the end for not losing this opportunity.
Kang Kyung Nam who brings about the tide of the new generations recorded 5 birdies on this day, but was stalled by 6 bogies and had to satisfy ranking dual 2nd.
Invitational player Retief Goosen (37, South Africa) reduced two scores on this day, ranking dual 6th with 7 under par. He said "My shots and putts were bad today. I'm at a difficult position now, behind 6 scores with the lead but I still see some chances if I do my best in tomorrow's game." 'Monster' Bubba Watson (28, U.S.A) who fell into 11th rank said "I made 63 hits in this game so why not go for 62. I would be more aggressive in tomorrow's play to challenge for winning champion."
In the other hand, players who had to go through a more solid, rapidly-changing game under totally different course conditions could not hide their perplexity. This day's pin settings were very complicated and the wind blew much harder than the first and second rounds.
This day's players reached a consensus that "the green speed is incomparably faster than yesterday. Now it feels like we're back to the original Woojeong hills green." One player said "I putted like I did in the first and second rounds for 5m long putt feel, but the ball rolled a meter longer than expected."
Kwon Myung Ho (22, Samhwa savings bank) and Jung Jun (34) ranked 4th with total 9 under par to elevate chances for winning, and amateur Kim Do Hoon (17), Nam Young Woo (33, Jisan resort), Tawon Wirachangth (Thailand) followed behind with 7 under par.
Yang Yong Eun, to make his life's first champion the Korea Open
Yang Yong Eun (34, gauge design) made champion in the 49th KOLON-Hana Bank Korea Open golf tournament.
On the last day of the tournament held on the 24th at Choongnam Chunan province Woojeong Country Club (par71, 7,086 yard), Yang Yong Eun made champion by leading 3 points (1 under par 70 hits) against Kang Ji Man (30, Donga membership) who ranked 2nd with score of 270 hits.
Yang started the game as a single lead at 13 under par, yet enabled Kang Kyung Nam (23, Samhwa savings bank) a dual lead temporarily by making a 3 putt bogey at 4th (par 3) hole. However, Yang did not allow this chase anymore by achieving birdies at the 8th (par 5), 10th (par 4) holes. Yang could completely defeat Kang Kyung Name by making a birdie at 15th hole (par 4) while Kang suffered from making a double bogey at 12th (par 3) hole.
As nation's most prestigious and traditional title, Yang received 200million won prize that replaced another new record of prize exceeding 200million at just two games.
After the game, yang stated in an interview "I'm very glad to make champion in a Korean tournament after a long time. I'm also happy to make champion competing against outstanding invitational players as Goosen, Watson and the other players. I think the 15th hole birdie was definite and critical for winning. This Monday was my youngest son's first anniversary and I guess I should thank him."
Yang Yong Eun also stated his future plans of challenging for U.S.A PGA tour Q-school as he is now for Japan tour. He said "Championship at the Korea Open will be a big help to me in the future. I appreciate KOLON and Hana-Bank for sponsoring this tournament."
Yang Yong Eun's championship became another turnover for dominance of Korean players at Korea Open which up to very recently was a party for foreign players.
In the other hand, Kang Ji Man, Kang Kyung Nam who had been breaking through new records on this tournament could not resist the pressure from the final round and eventually contributed their prize to Yang. Kang stated "Good putting skill is indispensable for winning, but I lost a critical chance for a birdie that made me off record." Kang had to be happy with semi-championship with 11 under par 273 hits.
David Oh (25, Tailormade), Rahil Kangji (28, India) and Kang Kyung Nam followed with 9 under par 275 hits.
Best amateur prize went for Roh Seung Ryul (15) in the national team.
In the other side, an albatross record was made that would make the fall's Korea Open tournament for opulent.
Scotland's Simon Yetch's number 4 222yard iron shot at the 5th hole (par 5, 510yard) hit the fairway in front of the green, rolled and went into the cup that amazed the fans with albatross.
Invitational players Retiff Goosen (37, South Africa) and Bubba Watson (28, U.S.A) finally failed for turnover, but impressed many golf fans with good manners and energetic play.
At a event tournament Online game Pangya Korea Open golf tournament, Yoo Sin Jae made champion by recording 37 under par in 18 holes. At a Korea-Japanese tournament event, the Japanese team made champion by leading 2 holes, 4 scores.