May 10, 2010: Young Korean star Kim Dae-hyun jumped to fifth on the OneAsia Order of Merit with US$164,869 following the 22-year-old’s outstanding win in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, which attracted record crowds at the Namseoul Country Club. Compatriot Kim Kyung-tae, 23, finished runner-up to move to 11th on the OneAsia Order of Merit with US$95,586 and also break into the world’s top 100. Kim moved to world number 98 and remains the third-highest ranked Korean behind Y.E. Yang, the current OneAsia Order of Merit leader, and K.J. Choi.
The slim six-footer, nicknamed 'Bigfoot', shot his second straight six-under 66 of the weekend to finish with an 18-under total of 270, four ahead of Kim Kyung-tae and 12 clear of Australian Scott Arnold and Koreans Kang Kyung-nam and Han Min-kyu.
Kim turned pro in April 2006 soon after turning 18 and blossomed last year, when he established himself as the Korean Tour’s biggest hitter. He won his first title at September’s KEB Invitational and finished fourth on his domestic money list.
“Now, I want to win the Korean Tour Order of Merit for the first time. However, it might be more difficult to win the OneAsia Order of Merit, so we will have to see what happens later in the year,” said Kim, who finished 22nd in last month’s Volvo China Open, co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour.
“My next event is the SK Telecom Open in Seoul next week, so I hope I can play as well there.”
Kim Kyung-tae, who won the 2007 Korean Tour Order of Merit when he was just 21, was full of praise for his younger compatriot after the pair fought a fierce duel over the weekend.
“Dae-hyun is a really good player, a massive hitter, and I believe he would even succeed on the US PGA Tour,” said Kim, who last year had four runner-up finishes on the Japan Tour, where he finished eighth on the money list.
Kang’s third-place finish in the Maekyung Open moved him to 12th on the OneAsia Order of Merit, including his prize money for finishing joint third at last month’s season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open in China.
Arnold, the world’s number one amateur last year, moved to 14th on the OneAsia Order of Merit after the 24-year-old tied for seventh at Luxehills.
Yang, the first Asian to win a Major, remains top of the OneAsia Order of Merit after his two-stroke victory in the Volvo China Open.
Chinese number one Liang Wenchong, who won at Luxehills and finished joint 17th at the Volvo China Open is fourth on OneAsia's money list.
OneAsia returns to Seoul next week for the SK Telecom Open at the Sky 72 Golf Club from May 20-23.
OneAsia Order of Merit: Top 25 (after GS Caltex Maekyung Open)
Pos. Player US$
1. Y. E. YANG (KOR) 416,660.00
2=. Rhys DAVIES (WAL) 217,135.00
2=. Stephen DODD (WAL) 217,135.00
4. LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 211,200.00
5. KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 164,869.02
6=. Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) 106,166.66
6=. Johan EDFORS (SWE) 106,166.66
6=. Mikko ILONEN (FIN) 106,166.66
9. KIM Do-hoon 753 (KOR) 104,343.75
10. KIM Hyung-tae (KOR) 102,000.00
11. KIM Kyung-tae (KOR) 95,586.88
12. KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 95,035.60
13. Oliver FISHER (ENG) 75,000.00
14. Scott Arnold (AUS) 67,785.60
15=. Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) 46,593.75
15=. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 46,593.75
15=. Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP) 46,593.75
15=. Graeme MCDOWELL (NIR) 46,593.75
15=. Ross McGOWAN (ENG) 46,593.75
15=. Alexander NOREN (SWE) 46,593.75
15=. Henrik STENSON (SWE) 46,593.75
22. KIM Bi-o (KOR) 46,431.94
23. Stephen ALLAN (AUS) 39,363.77
24. Kurt BARNES (AUS) 38,000.00
25. HAN Min-kyu (KOR) 37,285.60
ENDS
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region's best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.
For more information, please contact:
Janice Lee Fang
PR & Media Manager - OneAsia
DID: +65 6236 0362
Mobile: +65 8268 8155
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