HONG KONG, August 28 - OneAsia Order of Merit leader Kim Bi-o has confirmed his entry in next week's one billion won Charity High1 Resort Open in Korea, giving him the unprecedented opportunity to become the first player to win three OneAsia titles in the same year.Kim has been campaigning in the United States on the Web.com Tour (formerly Nationwide Tour) since winning the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and SK Telecom Open in May, and his decision to return for the Charity High1 Resort Open, presented by SBS, boosts an already formidable field for the September 6-9 event.
Australian Andre Stolz, winner of the Order of Merit title last year on the back of victories at the Indonesian PGA Championship and Thailand Open, is a confirmed starter, as are OneAsia tournament winners Kim Felton and Nick Cullen, also from Australia, and New Zealander Michael Hendry.
"High1 and OneAsia are delighted and grateful that Bi-o will be playing ," said Sang Y. Chun, OneAsia's Commissioner and Chairman.
"We are looking forward to showcasing the spectacular venue at High1 and Bio's appearance will reinforce our highest quality field at our newest OneAsia event in Korea".
Kim, 22, has three OneAsia titles in his short career after scoring his first win at the Nanshan China Masters last year when he prevailed in a four-way sudden-death playoff that included Australians Scott Laycock and Craig Hancock, and Kiwi Michael Long.
"I'm very excited to play at High1 for the first time," Kim said. "I have heard fantastic things about the High1 tournament when it was with the KLPGA and now I'm looking forward to the opportunity.
"I hope that I can play well."
Kim had been marked for greatness after securing his PGA Tour place at Q-School at the end of 2010 -- in the process becoming the youngest player to earn his card that year.
As the youngest player on the Web.com tour this year, Kim is seeking to play his way back to the top table, and hopes to translate his success in Asia to the courses in the U.S. Bio currently dominates the OneAsia money list with earnings of U.S. $341,634.87.
On account of his schedule, Kim has not yet committed to the Kolon Korea Open -- the final OneAsia stop in Korea later this year. If he were to play in both that and the Shinhan Open on the KGT tour, Kim would have a chance to win all four of the Korean "Majors" -- another unprecedented opportunity in a already impressive short career.
