Asian Tour News: Joohyung Kim Pockets Singapore International Title, Moves Up In Order Of Merit

Joohyung Kim of Korea claimed the Singapore International on Sunday, January 16 in dramatic fashion, besting Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand at the Tanah Merah Country Club.

The 19-year-old golfer holed a pressure-packed 14-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, on the Tampines Course’s daunting par-five 18th, before Rattanon missed his birdie attempt from eight feet.

The win rewarded Kim with a check for $180,000. Aside from that, he also overtook Wade Ormsby of Australia on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

There is one more event remaining for this season, which is the SMBC Singapore Open per the Golf Channel's report.

Kim and Rattanon, playing together in the final pairing, had finished the tournament tied on four under after the former closed with a 70.

Thailand’s amateur star Ratchanon Chantananuwat, a 14-year-old, was in contention for much of the day, making it a battle of the teenagers.

The Thai took sole possession of third when he returned a 69 to finish two shots shy of the play-off.

For the fourth day in a row, strong winds swept the challenging Tampines Course, but Kim handled conditions impressively showing maturity beyond his years.

“Has to be this one. Just because it’s a tough golf course you know, all the players played their heart out. I’m just very lucky to be on top. It was a grind today. I think it was a lot harder than the first one but definitely glad I finished on top,” Kim said when asked which win was the hardest so far for him.

He looked on course to take the title more comfortably after holding a one-shot lead playing the final hole in normal time.

But this was before Rattanon made an eight-foot birdie following a brilliant chip from behind the green.

Rattanon was also in trouble on 17 but made a brilliant up and down from the greenside bunker for par before the drama unfolded on the last.

Ratchanon was attempting to become the youngest winner on one of the world’s main Tours, aged 14 years, three months, four days.

He would have beaten the record set by his compatriot Atthaya Thitikul, who won the 2017 Ladies European Thailand Open when she was 14 years, four months, 19 days.

“People will look at those scores online, see those dropped shots, and think I played badly but I didn’t. I was trying so hard and playing well,” the youngster said.