KOREA'S KIM KYUNG-TAE WINS ASIAN
TOUR EVENT BY FIVE STROKES
Seoul, May 6: Asia heralded a new rising star when Korea's Kim Kyung-tae coasted to an emphatic five-stroke victory in the US$600,000 GS Caltex Maekyung Open today, just five months after turning professional.
The 20-year-old Kim trailed by one overnight but steamrolled past China's Liang Wen-chong with a final round of five-under-par 67 at Nam Seoul Country Club to secure his maiden Asian Tour victory in only his second start in the region.
With a winning total of 18-under-par 270, Kim, a double gold medal winner in the Asian Games in Doha last December before he turned professional, earned a cheque of US$129,032. It was his second victory in successive weeks following his triumph in a domestic event last weekend.
Liang, who had led since the first day, failed to keep up pace on the back nine as he settled for second place with a closing 73. Korean amateur Danny Lee Jin-myung, who is only 16 and lives in New Zealand, grabbed third place on 279 after closing with a 65 while another amateur, Kim Bi-o, veteran Choi Gwang-soo and Lee Seung-ho shared fourth place on 282.
Scottish exile Ross Bain collected $4,387 for a share of 39th place with scores of 69, 74, 74 and 74 for three-over-par 291.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Players from Korea unless stated.
270 Kim Kyung-tae 70-66-67-67
275 Liang Wen-chong (China) 64-71-67-73
279 Lee Jin-myung (am) 70-73-71-65
282 Kim Bi-o (am) 72-69-75-66, Lee Seong-Ho 72-71-71-68, Choi Gwang-soo 70-76-67-69
284 Yoo Jong-gu 68-73-74-69, Mitchell Brown (Aus) 66-73-74-71, Kang Kyung-nam 73-67-73-71, Richard Lee (NZ) 68-75-71-70, Anthony Kang (US) 75-69-68-72.
285 Kim Chang-yoon 76-70-71-68, Unho Park (Aus) 74-69-73-69, Choi Sang-ho 71-73-72-69, Hong Soon-sang 76-72-66-71
286 Craig Smith (Wal) 73-69-76-68, David Oh (US) 72-71-74-69, Jin Park 76-71-70-69, Bae Sang-moon 71-72-71-72, Choi Joon-woo 71-73-70-72, Lee Won-joon (AUS) 76-67-66-77
287 Mardan Mamat (Singapore) 70-73-75-69, Shin Yong-jin 70-69-74-74, Kim Jong-duk 75-70-68-74.
Other score:
291 Ross Bain (Sco) 69 74 74 74 (jt 39th).