Kim sparkles in Asia-Pacific Open

K.T. Kim shot a final round two-under 68 at Otone Country Club near Tokyo Sunday to secure a three-shot victory in the Asia-Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup.

The 29-year-old Korean holed a 10-foot birdie at the 18th for a winning total of nine-under-par 271 in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Japan’s Toshinori Muto (67) and Yuta Ikeda (69) shared second place on six-under 274, while countryman Michio Matsumura finished a further shot back in fourth.

Kim, who led by two shots at the start of the round, saw his lead evaporate as Muto drew level after 12 holes. But the Korean birdied the par-three 13th hole to regain command and sealed victory with the birdie finish.

"It doesn’t matter if you are leading by a few shots. It can easily be erased so I kept to my pace," Kim was quoted as saying on a release issued by the Asian Tour.

"It was never going to be an easy win and it wasn’t. I didn’t see the leaderboard until the 13th hole and that’s when I saw that I was tied for the lead.

“I knew it was going to get harder but I didn’t want to push myself too hard. I stayed relaxed and I was able to get the birdie.

“On the 18th hole, I knew that Toshinori and Yuta were two shots behind and they could eagle the hole. I wanted to get a birdie. I was nervous.”

The victory was especially sweet for Kim, who also won the event in 2010 for his first title in Japan before it was co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.

Leading scores after the final round of the Asia Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup at Otone Country Club, Ibaraki Prefecture (par 70):

271 - K.T. Kim (KOR) 67-69-67-68.

274 - Toshinori Muto (JPN) 69-68-70-67, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 68-70-67-69.

275 - Michio Matsumura (JPN) 70-71-69-65.

276 - Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 72-71-66-67, Yuki Inamori (JPN) 73-65-69-69.

277 - Shingo Katayama (JPN) 71-68-72-66, Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 69-68-73-67, Daisuke Kataoka (JPN) 69-70-70-68, Satoshi Kodaira (JPN) 71-68-66-72.

278 - Shugo Imahira (JPN) 70-68-70-70, Yusaku Miyazato (JPN) 70-70-68-70, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-68-72-71.
Source: AFP