GolfPlus June 2018 Digital Edition (June 2018) | Page 21

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Kim wins the trophy
RECORD-BREAKING KIM
WINS IN CZECH REPUBLIC
MASTERS Costa Azahar. On the Challenge
Tour, Kim betters Dominic Foos’ record by
283 days as the new youngest-ever champion
on tour.
The South Korean, who started the day with a
two-shot lead before faltering early, was able
to settle himself, and after picking up shots
on the seventh and ninth, he made the turn
Minkyu Kim etched his name into the record
books as the youngest winner in European
Tour and European Challenge Tour history
by winning the D+D REAL Czech Challenge
in stunning fashion. At 17 years and 64 days,
he has eclipsed the previous mark of 17 years
and 188 days set by Italy’s Matteo Manassero
at the European Tour’s 2010 CASTELLÓ
only one stroke behind Sweden’s Sebastian
Soderberg. Kim would then put on a show —
taking just 30 shots to complete his back nine,
which included six birdies and no bogeys,
to fl y past Soderberg and claim a three-shot
victory on 20 under par. “I feel really happy,”
said Kim. “It’s a dream.
I was really nervous this morning before the
round and on the fi rst few holes, but t hen I
made a double-bogey on six and I just wanted
to get a top-three.
“My goal is now to make the European Tour
this year by fi nishing in the top 15.”
With victory Kim becomes only the second
golfer from South Korea to win on the
Challenge Tour — following Byeong Hun An
who triumphed at the 2014 Rolex Trophy —
and moves up 109 places on the Road to Ras
Al Khaimah to now sit in 12th position. The
highest fi nisher from the Czech Republic this
week was amateur Šimon Zach, who fi red a
fi nal round 67 to fi nish in a tie for 25th. Zach,
who plays NCAA golf for the University of
Louisville Cardinals in America, garnered
signifi cant support from his home fans.
Austria’s Matthias Schwab carded the
low round of the week on Day Four as he
made eight birdies and no bogeys to sign
for a 64. The Challenge Tour now travels
to Switzerland for the Swiss Challenge
presented by Association Suisse at Golf
Sempachersee in Lucerne.
Otaegui goes the distance
in Belgian Knockout
Adrian Otaegui claimed the second European Tour title of
his career, and his second in 20 appearances, at the Belgian
Knockout after the Spaniard sealed a two-stroke victory over
Benjamin Hebert in the final of the innovative nine-hole stroke
play knockout event. The 25-year-old thrilled the huge Belgian
crowds at Rinkven International Golf Club with four birdies in the
space of five holes in the grand finale having fallen a shot behind
on the second hole.
The Basque player leveled the match, however, as he picked up
a shot at the fourth before a trio of consecutive birdies from the
sixth moved him two shots clear of his French counter-part, who
could only pick up a shot at the seventh hole. A pair of pars at
the last meant that Otaegui, whose last appearance at the Volvo
China Open yielded a runner-up finish, moved to 14th place in
the Race to Dubai and means that both of his victories have
come in knockout formats having won last year’s Saltire Energy
Paul Lawrie Match Play. Scot David Drysdale claimed third place
after triumphing in the third and fourth place play-off, beating
Englishman James Heath, who can console himself with late
qualification for a maiden appearance at next week’s BMW PGA
Championship in his native Surrey.
Heath had earlier in the day knocked out the home favourite
Nicolas Colsaerts in the quarter-final, but the former Ryder Cup
player did pick up his best result of the season with a seventh-
place finish.
“I’m very happy, very relaxed now - the
last nine holes against Ben though were
very tight. I think we both played very
good golf, and I’m just very proud about
my week. I thank my caddie, Ian, as well.
I’m just very happy.”
- Adrian Otaegui
GolfPlus
JUNE
2018
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