Let us continue to be in the champion team!
Yang, Yong Eun, Vijay Singh, Kim, Kyung Tae in the same group ranking the top 3.
Yang, Young Eun (35, Taylormade), Vijay Singh(44, FIJI), Kim, Kyung Tae(21, Shinhan Bank) - The three players with fan's greatest interest even in advance to the 50th KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open started the first day ranking the top three positions in very competitive game, predicting the Champion in the group.
The 50th Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open Championship started in Cheonan Woojeong Hills Country Club (Par 71, 7,185 yards) on October 4th. Yang, Yong Eun - the defending champion led the game with scoring 6 under par. Yang, Yong Eun started the game at 7:34am on the day 1 at 10th Tee recording 7 birdies and a boggy leaving his competitors, Vijay Singh and Kim, Kyung Tae behind. On this day, Yang, Yong Eun had unstable start with a boggy however soon brought himself back in the right track with the birdie on the next hole. Through the game on the day, he maintained the condition making up all his opportunities he had and successfully finished the game.
Yang said "I was perplexed to face the boggy on the very first hole but the birdie on second hole made myself comfortable for the entire play" and "I was doing my best to not have myself following behind Vijay Singh and Kim Kyung Tae, and I guess the round 1 has ended up pretty well". Yang was showing composed attitude as a defending champion.
On the other hand, Vijay Singh ranking on second position with -5, just one stroke behind Yang had good play without any boggy but five birdies showing his competency as an invited player. Singh had difficulty on putting on this day, but fascinated the galleries with his long drive shot with his typical unique swing. Singh said after the game "I was fully concentrated in the game without chasing for the championship and that made no terrible mistake. All players in my group were really good and that motivated me to bring up even better score."
Singh drove straight off to the driving range to practice putting which was not easy on this day to bring up next better day.
The 'monster rookie' Kim Kyung Tae on the 3rd position with the -4 showed his full proficiency as a Korean ranking no.1 player.
Though Kim was behind over 30 yards in comparison to Singh and Yang, he kept himself stable for the play, proving that his is the real ranking no. 1 player in Korea. Yang and Singh both commented that 'Kim is a real good player'. Kim said, "My body condition was not really good before the tournament, but I rested well in Chusok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays and managed to bring back to normal. I worried about the putting in recent games but today's putting was not too bad, helping to make the good score."
Kang, Kyung Nam, (23, Samhwa Bank) who won 2 games in the season is closely chasing Kim Kyung Tae. Kang ranked in the 3rd position with Kim with -4. If Kang wins the game, he can be winner for the seasonal champion for tournament purse, making the game even more competitive.
Also, David Oh (26) and Kim, Hyung Sung (27, Samhwa Bank) were also ranked in 3rd position with -4. Amadib Joll (38, India), Lee, Seung Man (27), Kim, Sang Ki (23, Samhwa Bank), Kim, Wee Jung (27) were followed with -2.
Vijay Singh, taking the lead
The 'black pearl' - Vijay Singh took the lead in the 50th KolonㆍHana Bank Korea Open (Purse : 1 billion won) held in Cheonan Woojeong Hills Country Club
(Par 71) on Round 2.
His first shot was spouted as if it was planned to catch Yang, who was leading the game by 1 stroke. Singh's tee shot dropped around 40 yards further than his partner players. Galleries exclaimed and said "Yes, he is Singh!"
He was comfortable waiting to start the second shot. Singh lightly succeeded for two-on with 52 degree wedge and recorded birdie. He had another birdie on second hole and then became the leader of the game.
After the second hole, Singh was making pars in all holes but not only in No. 9 hole. Singh aimed the green with 9th iron in No. 9 hole (440 yards, par 4) but fell in the fringe and that made 3 putters, the only boggy in round 2.
Singh recorded 2 birdies, 1 boggy and all pars through the game, and another birdie in 17th hole made -2 for his round 2. In total, -7 with 135 strokes he was leading the game after the round 2.
Kim, Kyung Tae ranked in 2nd position with Kim, Sang Ki with -6, 138 strokes. They were behind by three strokes to Vijay Singh. They both promised their best play to have Korean player grabbing the championship in the Korea Open Tournament.
Kim, Hyung sung and Anthony Kang ranked in 4th position followed by Lee, In woo, Kang, Kyung Nam, Yang, Yong Eun and Ryang Wen Chong (China).
Vijay Singh, continue to lead the game by 4 strokes ahead
Vijay Singh (44, FIJI), the invited player of the 50th KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open is close to hold the champion cup by leading the game on Round 3. Vijay Singh made 3 birdies and 2 bogies on 3rd day, October 6th at Cheonan Woojeong Hills Country Club (Par 71, 7185yards) leading by 4 strokes ahead than his competitor.
Unusual number of 10,000 galleries watching the game on this Round 3, Singh made a good start with a birdie on second hole. However, two bogies were made on two holes - 5th (Par 5) and 9th (Par 4) hole ending the first nine holes by over par score. Towards the second nine holes, Singh made good approach to 12th hole (325 yards, Par 4) and successfully made birdie to end the game with par.
Singh overcame with minor difficulties by pars and in the last hole, his approach brought the ball 1m close to the hole, helping to make birdie to finish up the day with -1.
Singh said "Today's play was generally fine but green felt harder than yesterday, taking me some time to work wit this. Pin position was difficult today as well so was not easy to set my strategy." Then he said "I will focus on the tee shot tomorrow to avoid any trouble situations like I have done today. I will be strategically stable but will not forget to be aggressive."
On the other hand, the second position players - Lee, In Woo (35, Tourstage), Kang, Kyung Nam (23, Samhwa Bank) with -4, are on their special mission to take the champion ship from Vijay Singh tomorrow.
In Round 3, both the players made 4 birdies and 2 bogies ended up with 2 underpar. They are behind Singh by 4 strokes and galleries are interested to watch how they will overcome with these 4 strokes over Singh.
Especially for Kang, he ranked in 3rd position in last two years at KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open. He commented that "This course suits me but the luck was on other player's hand in last two years. I am behind by 4 strokes to Singh but with the aggressive approach, I can catch Singh's score by first nine holes and hopefully looking for the championship." If Kang wins the game, he will be granted with the purse of 30 million won, easily catching Kim Kyung Tae (21, Shinhan Bank) who is currently the money ranking no. 1 in Korea.
The daily best was recorded by Adam Groom (28, Australia) with -6 in Round 3. Anthony Kang (36, USA) was ranked in 3rd position with Adam Groom, followed by China No. 1 Lian Wen Chong (29). Defending Champion Yang, Yong Eun (36, Taylormade) lost another stroke in Round 3 ranked in 7th position. Kim, Kyung Tae who was in the same group with Singh lost 4 strokes and recorded even par fell to 10th position further away to be a champion.
Vijay Singh, grabbed the Champion cup of 50th KOLON - Hana Bank Korea Open
Vijay Singh (44, FIJI) have finally grabbed the Champion cup of the 50th KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open. On the final round of the 50th KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open on October 7th at Woojeong Hills Country club (Par 71, 7,185 yards) Vijay Singh made the over par score but won the game. The final wining score was 6 underpar with 210 strokes, 2 strokes ahead of 2nd positioned player
Singh had hard day with 5 bogies but carefully concentrated in the play. Singh was never perplexed during the play keeping his own pace. Singh was calm and stable until the last minute, especially when Kang, Kyung Nam was closely after him with 3 birdies on 5th 6th and 7th hole.
" I was fully concentrated in my game despite of very difficult situations" Singh said. "The entire round was difficult however the second nine holes were focused to make pars".
Singh said he has never imagined himself without the champion cup during the final round today. He also said "Being a champion is always great and winning the game in Korea in 12 years time is very meaningful. I was not aware that this was the 50th anniversary of the tournament before arriving in Korea but it will be even more honored to be the winner in such a meaningful tournament."
Singh has attended the awarding ceremony at the hall of fame of KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open tournament. He flew back home in Jacksonvill of Florida, USA via Korean air tonight at 8:30pm. He said he is planning to attend two more Asian tour tournaments.
On the other hand, Kang, Kyung Nam (23, Samhwa Bank) who showed an aggressive play towards the winner Singh had great play with 3 birdies in consecutive holes chasing Singh by 1 stroke behind. However, his tee shot feel in the hazard on 8th hole and more mistakes followed after that. The main trouble was the two bogies on 16th & 17th hole. Kang failed to make par on these two holes and this made the situation difficult to catch up with Singh.
Kang said "It was the biggest mistake to have tee shot miss in the 8th hole dropping the ball in hazard. I had chances in the second nine holes and losing the birdie chances in 12th & 13th holes were affecting in the final score." The defending champion Yang Yong Eun (36, Taylormade) and Kim Kyung Tae (21, Shinhan Bank) both ranked in the second position with the score of -4.
This year's 50th KOLONㆍHana Bank Korea Open made new record in number of visited galleries of 13,000 in the final round in total over 20,000 during the weekend.