Choi Kyung-ju Loses Birdie, Tournament

Around 8,000 spectators gathered on the green sighed in unison when the five-meter downward birdie putt by Choi Kyung-ju (35. Nike Golf) just missed the cup on the first hole in an extended round held at the 18th hole (par 4).

Kim Jong-deok’s (44, Nano Soul) 1.2 meter birdie putt remained. Leaving the putter, the ball went straight into the cup. Victory went to Kim, who almost lost the match because of a mistake at the end of the match.

On October 16, the 21th Shinhan Donghae Open (Total Prize: 600 million won) ended at the West Course of the Lake Side Country Club (par 72) in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province.

Kim Jong-deok turned pro in 1985 and has been playing in Japan beginning in 1997. Kim has become the oldest champion of the match by winning in extended match play after ending the last round tied at 16-under 272 with Choi.

A professional golfer, Kim, who belongs to the Lake Side Country Club, showed excitement, saying, “I could win because I knew the green well as it is my home course. Choi, who was in the same group, told me that I was good at putting throughout the last four days.”

Kim also broke the record of the oldest champion (43) set by Han Jang-sang at the first championship match in 1981 in 24 years by winning his ninth match in Korea and his second win this season. Kim received 120 million won in prize money for the win.

Kim Jong-deok allowed Choi to take first place by scoring a double bogey after hitting a drive out of bounds at the 16th hole (par 4) while ahead by 2 shots.

Park Noh-seok (Daehwa Pharmaceutical Company) came in tied for fourth (11-under) and ranked first in tour prize money (223,355,857 won) after receiving a 27 million won prize for this event.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com