Kim wins SK Telecom Open for first pro title

INCHEON (AP) — Kim Seung-hyuk sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the last hole to win the SK Telecom Open by one shot ahead of countrymen Lee Tae-hee and Kim Kyung-tae on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Seung-hyuk shot a two-under-par 70 in the final round, finishing on an 11-under total of 277 for the OneAsia Tour tournament.

“It was a fantastic feeling when it went in,” Seung-hyuk said after winning his maiden title since turning professional in 2005.

“Now I know I can win a golf tournament, so I can set my sights on winning more.”

Australian David Bransdon (69) was fourth while star attraction K.J. Choi (68) was one shot further back.

Early in the final round the top four were tied at 10-under when Seung-hyuk appeared to fall out of contention when he made a double-bogey on the fourth before bouncing back with birdies at five and seven.

Kyung-tae also dropped shots on the 11th and 12th before firing back-to-back birdies on the next two and on the 16th that kept him in the hunt.

Bransdon, the top international finisher in the tournament, hoped he could build on his performance in Incheon.

“If you had asked me before the week if I’d take fourth I would have grabbed it right then,” he said. “It’s been a great week for me and hopefully I can build on this effort for the rest of the year.”

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