Kim Joo-hyung takes second at Blue Canyon Phuket Championship

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Kim Joo-hyung takes second at Blue Canyon Phuket Championship

Published: 29 Nov. 2021, 18:41

Kim Joo-hyung looks on during the final round of the Blue Canyon Championship golf tournament at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Kim Joo-hyung narrowly missed out on a trophy at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 in Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, finishing runner-up with 17-under-par, 271, one stroke behind winner Chan Shih-chang from Taiwan.

Kim carded a three-under-par, 69, on the first day to start out at a tied 10th position but kept climbing up, taking a solo fifth position carding a five-under-par, 67, on the second day then moving up another step on moving day, carding a three-under-par, 69. In the final round, Kim birdied seven holes and bogeyed one to finish in second.

Kim earned his place on the Asian Tour after taking three wins at the Asian Development Tour in 2019. Kim won his first Asian Tour title on just his third start, at the Panasonic Open in India on Nov. 14, 2019, making him the second-youngest golfer to win on the Asian Tour, at 17 years and 149 days old. Compatriot Noh Seung-yul is the youngest, having won the 2008 Midea China Classic at the age of 17 years and 143 days old.

Kim debuted on the KPGA Tour the following year and won the Gunsan Country Club Open just three months after he joined: the shortest time period ever for a golfer to win a KPGA title after joining the Tour. He was also the youngest winner on the KPGA at the age of 18. This season, he has one KPGA title, at the SK telecom Open 2021 in June, and three runner-up finishes. He topped the KPGA Tour this season with the most points, the biggest purse and the lowest strokes.

Kim Bi-o looks on during the final round of the Blue Canyon Championship golf tournament at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Alongside Kim Joo-hyung, countryman Kim Bi-o took a tied fourth position, birdying 10 holes and bogeying two just on the last day, carding a total score of 16-under-par, 272. Seo Yo-seop took a tied 10th position alongside countryman Ok Tae-hoon, both carding 13-under-par, 275.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]