Poulter sharing second place
with one round to go in
Korea Open
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Seoul, October 4: Local favourite Kim Wi-joong fired a two-under-par 69 and remained at the top of the pack at the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open on Saturday.
Wi-joong, with one win on the local circuit, produced a three-day total of 10-under-par 203 for a one stroke advantage in the third round at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
American star Anthony Kim and Asian Tour’s Bae Sang-moon posted matching 67s to lie in joint second place alongside England’s Ian Poulter (pictured above) and former tournament winner Kim Dae-sub who both recorded similar 69s. Kim Hyung-tae was five strokes off the pace after a 74 to lie in lone sixth spot in the US$1 million event.
Riding on the support from the home fans, Wi-joong was pleased to stay ahead of the elite field thanks to five birdies against three bogeys.
“I three putted the starting hole and it was a struggle the entire day.
“Before playing this week, my goal was to finish in the top-10. But now I feel confident enough for a win. I'll be playing with some famous golfers tomorrow so I'll try to focus on my game on the final charge on Sunday,” said Wi-joong.
Ryder Cup star Kim remained strong for a maiden triumph in Korea when he nailed a 67.
“I haven’t found my swing and my putting is not too steady. My game is not where I want it to be but I fought hard and I’m looking forward to Sunday.
“I am going to play smart until the last four or five holes tomorrow and then I will see where I am in the tournament and go from there,” admitted Kim, who was part of the winning Ryder Cup team.
Poulter, who finished runner-up at the British Open, was pleased with his run of 69 as he hopes to enjoy the final day.
“I had two bogeys in the first three holes which was not fun but I got my rhythm on the back nine and made some birdies.
“I hope to play golf, have fun and try to win this tournament. It’s a good course and there are some tough holes out there. I am enjoying my first week in Korea and I hope to have fun on the golf course too on Sunday,” said the 32-year-old Englishman.
Dae-sub, who won the event twice as an amateur in 1998 and 2001, will be gunning for a third win this week.
“I had no pressure today and I feel really good. I am just a little disappointed when I missed birdie putts on the last hole and some other holes on the front nine,” said Dae-sub.
Amateur Song Tae-hoon improved with a 69 to lie in a tie for seventh place together with Australia’s Jason King who carded a 72. King was among the 45 players who had returned early today morning to complete the second round which endured a late tee off on Friday due to heavy fog.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
Seoul, October 4: Local favourite Kim Wi-joong fired a two-under-par 69 and remained at the top of the pack at the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open on Saturday.
Wi-joong, with one win on the local circuit, produced a three-day total of 10-under-par 203 for a one stroke advantage in the third round at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
American star Anthony Kim and Asian Tour’s Bae Sang-moon posted matching 67s to lie in joint second place alongside England’s Ian Poulter (pictured above) and former tournament winner Kim Dae-sub who both recorded similar 69s. Kim Hyung-tae was five strokes off the pace after a 74 to lie in lone sixth spot in the US$1 million event.
Riding on the support from the home fans, Wi-joong was pleased to stay ahead of the elite field thanks to five birdies against three bogeys.
“I three putted the starting hole and it was a struggle the entire day.
“Before playing this week, my goal was to finish in the top-10. But now I feel confident enough for a win. I'll be playing with some famous golfers tomorrow so I'll try to focus on my game on the final charge on Sunday,” said Wi-joong.
Ryder Cup star Kim remained strong for a maiden triumph in Korea when he nailed a 67.
“I haven’t found my swing and my putting is not too steady. My game is not where I want it to be but I fought hard and I’m looking forward to Sunday.
“I am going to play smart until the last four or five holes tomorrow and then I will see where I am in the tournament and go from there,” admitted Kim, who was part of the winning Ryder Cup team.
Poulter, who finished runner-up at the British Open, was pleased with his run of 69 as he hopes to enjoy the final day.
“I had two bogeys in the first three holes which was not fun but I got my rhythm on the back nine and made some birdies.
“I hope to play golf, have fun and try to win this tournament. It’s a good course and there are some tough holes out there. I am enjoying my first week in Korea and I hope to have fun on the golf course too on Sunday,” said the 32-year-old Englishman.
Dae-sub, who won the event twice as an amateur in 1998 and 2001, will be gunning for a third win this week.
“I had no pressure today and I feel really good. I am just a little disappointed when I missed birdie putts on the last hole and some other holes on the front nine,” said Dae-sub.
Amateur Song Tae-hoon improved with a 69 to lie in a tie for seventh place together with Australia’s Jason King who carded a 72. King was among the 45 players who had returned early today morning to complete the second round which endured a late tee off on Friday due to heavy fog.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
203 Kim Wi-joong (KOR) 67-67-69
204 Anthony Kim (USA) 64-73-67, Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 67-70-67Kim Dae-sub (KOR) 67-68-69, Ian Poulter (ENG) 69-66-69
208 Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 70-70-74
209 Song Tae-hoon (KOR) (am) 70-70-69, Jason King (AUS) 70-67-72
210 Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 70-72-68, Kim Do-hoon I (KOR) 73-71-66, Zaw Moe (MYN) 69-70-71
211 - Moon Kyong-jin (KOR) 72-69-70, Bae Sung-chul (KOR) 71-73-67, Hong Soon-sang (KOR) 68-71-72, Chung Jae-hoon (KOR) 70-69-72
212 S.K. Ho (KOR) 70-71-71, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 70-70-72
213 Kodai Ichihara (JPN) 72-71-70, Choi Sang-ho (KOR) 72-71-70, Mars Pucay (PHI) 73-70-70, Rick Kulacz (AUS) 68-75-70, Lee In-woo (KOR) 71-72-70, Kang Ji-Man (KOR) 71-71-71, Tony Carolan (AUS) 68-72-73, Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-76-69
203 Kim Wi-joong (KOR) 67-67-69
204 Anthony Kim (USA) 64-73-67, Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 67-70-67Kim Dae-sub (KOR) 67-68-69, Ian Poulter (ENG) 69-66-69
208 Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 70-70-74
209 Song Tae-hoon (KOR) (am) 70-70-69, Jason King (AUS) 70-67-72
210 Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 70-72-68, Kim Do-hoon I (KOR) 73-71-66, Zaw Moe (MYN) 69-70-71
211 - Moon Kyong-jin (KOR) 72-69-70, Bae Sung-chul (KOR) 71-73-67, Hong Soon-sang (KOR) 68-71-72, Chung Jae-hoon (KOR) 70-69-72
212 S.K. Ho (KOR) 70-71-71, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 70-70-72
213 Kodai Ichihara (JPN) 72-71-70, Choi Sang-ho (KOR) 72-71-70, Mars Pucay (PHI) 73-70-70, Rick Kulacz (AUS) 68-75-70, Lee In-woo (KOR) 71-72-70, Kang Ji-Man (KOR) 71-71-71, Tony Carolan (AUS) 68-72-73, Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-76-69
Labels: ASIAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, October 04, 2008
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