Kim Wins Another Amateur Golf Title

Kim Gyeong-tae (Yonsei University) recaptured his championship title in the 53rd Heo Jeong-gu Cup Korea Amateur Golf Championship in two years after keeping the lead for four consecutive days.

Winner of the 2004 championship, Kim finished the final round with 7 under par 65, hitting an eagle and five birdies without a bogey at the Namseoul Country Club (par 72) on September 1. His final score of 18 under par 270 won him the winning trophy, outpacing the second place group by 15 shots.

Also the winner of the 91st Japan Amateur Golf Championship held last month, Kim is the first in history to win an amateur national title in both Korea and Japan.

As the championship is in fact the most renowned match for amateurs, Namseoul Country Club had set up a tough course, growing the rough and making other preparations, but it could not defeat Kim’s fantastic iron shots and putting sense. Jeon Yun-cheol (Dongnam High School), Park Il-hwan (Sokcho Middle School) and Kim Woo-hyeon (Baekseok Middle School) tied for second place with scores of 3 under par 285.

ysahn@donga.com