Korean Park Sanghyun triumphed in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today after beating countryman Lee Soomin on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off.
Park won his first OneAsia title by shooting a final round four-under-par 68 to finish tied with Lee, in with a 70, on eight-under-par 280.
A par on the second extra hole was enough to secure victory and a cheque for nearly US$170,000.
Lee led by one shot at the start of the day at Namseoul Country Club and was left to rue a costly bogey on the final hole of normal time.
Korean Kyungtae, winner of The Crowns tournament last weekend in Japan, shared third place a stroke further back with compatriot Lee Changwoo – winner of the 2013 Asia-Pacific Amateur. They both closed with 69s.
Korea’s Kim Bio, a three-time winner on OneAsia who won the 2012 Order of Merit, took sole possession of fifth following a 71.
This is the biggest victory of 33-year-old Park’s career. So often a contender in OneAsia events he has come close to winning several times and will be relieved to finally take top spot this week.
He has been playing on the Japan Golf Tour since 2014, where he is also waiting for his maiden win despite a wealth of strong results including a play-off loss in the Tsuruya Open in 2014.
It is the second time this year that Lee has let victory slip from grasp over the closing holes.
In the Maybank Championship Malaysia in February he went into the final round with a three-stroke lead but made two double-bogeys in his last three holes to finish in a share of second.
However, he did win the Shenzhen International last month on the European Tour to show the 22 year old is one of his country’s most exciting young golfers.
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