Teenage amateur Kim wins Korean Open

SEOUL (Agencies): Teenage Korean amateur Kim Dae-sub fired a stunning seven under par 65 on Sunday to win the US$300,000 Kolon Sports Korean Open by five shots from compatriot Choi Sang-ho and Fran Quinn of America.

The 16-year-old sensation overturned a four shot deficit at the start of the day by carding an eagle, six birdies and a solitary bogey over the 6,995-yard Seoul Country Club layout, and finished with a 10 under par 278 total.

Choi, Korean Open champion back in 1982, returned an eagle, three birdies and a double bogey for a three under par 69, while Quinn, who had a share of the lead for the first three rounds, posted four birdies, a double bogey and four bogeys for a disappointing 74.

"I didn't feel any pressure because at the start of the day I didn't think that I was good enough to win against the professionals," said Kim, who had finished as leading amateur in the Superior Open a week earlier.

"I just concentrated on playing my own game and tried not to think about winning. I was hitting it well of the tee all day, averaging about 260 yards, and when I got it close I managed to hole most of my birdie chances."

Kim started his charge with a birdie from eight feet at the second, and went two under for the day with a two-foot birdie at the fifth. He drew level with Quinn, playing one flight behind, when he rolled in a 16 foot birdie at the seventh, and reached the turn with a share of the lead on seven under following another birdie at nine.

A pair of birdies on the 11th and 12th gave the sixteen year old the outright lead at nine under par, and although Quinn closed the deficit to one with his own birdie at 12, Kim effectively put the contest beyond doubt when he chipped in from 40 yards for an eagle at the 15th. His one bogey of the day came at the last when he missed the green and failed to get up-and- down.

"It was only when I chipped in on the 15th that I heard I was in with a good chance," added the amateur from Cheju Island.

"Before that I didn't look at the leaderboard but when it went in a lot of people told me that I'd moved three ahead.

"I'd like to turn professional as soon as possible but I think it's important for me to finish school and get my degree first. I'm also looking forward to representing Korea at the Asian Games in Bangkok in December."

Quinn's chances of securing his first Asian title effectively disappeared when he double bogeyed the par five 15th, though the 32-year-old from Massachusetts can take consolation from collecting a US$36,542 cheque for sharing second spot.

Australia's Adrian Percey carded a two under 70 to take a share of fourth place with Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol, who went round in level par, and another Korean amateur Jung Sung-han, who fired a one under 71.

Results: 278 - Kim Dae-sub (A) (Kor) 76-70-67-65 283 - Choi Sang-ho (Kor) 69-71-74-69, Fran Quinn (U.S.) 69-70-70-74 285 - Adrian Percey (Aus) 70-74-71-70, Jung Sung-han (A) (Kor) 70-72-72-71, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 70-73-70-72 286 - Gerry Norquist (U.S.) 72-73-71-70, Park No-seok (Kor) 73-71-70-72, Choi Gwang-soo (Kor) 78-69-67-72, Eric Rustand (U.S.) 74-68-70-74 287 - Han Young-kun (Kor) 73-72-72-70, Chung Do-man (Kor) 75-66- 75-71, Scott Laycock (Aus) 74-71-70-72, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 69-70-70-78 288 - Robin Byrd (U.S.) 72-74-73-69, Kim Sung-yun (A) (Kor) 76-69-68-75 289 - Kim Jong-duk (Kor) 75-73-72-69, Jim Rutledge (Can) 75-69-74-71 290 - Yoo Jong-koo (Kor) 74-72-75-69, Rob Huxtable (U.S.) 74-73- 73-70, Satoshi Oide (Jpn) 74-72-73-71, Yoon Kwang-chun (Kor) 72-72-74-72, Lee Joon-suk (Kor) 76-70-72-72, Christian Pena (U.S.) 71-72-74-73, James Kingston (Rsa) 75- 67-75-73, Lee In-woo (Kor) 72-70-75-73, Kim Hyung-tae (A) (Kor) 73-71-72-74 291 - Peter Teravainen (U.S.) 76-73-72-70, Mo Joong-kyung (Kor) 74-72-73-72, Chung Joon (Kor) 71-70-77-73