Kim Hui-soo of South Korea (AFP)
Teenage amateur Kim Hui-Soo shrugged off the nerves of playing in his first professional tournament to take a one-shot lead at the $1 million Maekyung Open Thursday with a first round six-under-par 66.
Teenage amateur Kim Hui-Soo shrugged off the nerves of playing in his first professional tournament to take a one-shot lead at the $1 million Maekyung Open Thursday with a first round six-under-par 66.
The 19-year-old university student, who was invited to this week's OneAsia event at Namseoul Golf & Country Club in Seoul, chipped in for two of his seven birdies to edge ahead of last year's runner-up Kim Kyung-Tae.
On a sun-drenched day, Kim Kyung-Tae, David Oh, Choi Ho-Sung and Cho Min-Gyu shared second place, a shot behind the leader as the field prepares for the second round.
Kim Yeong-Su, Park Sang-Hyun and Australia's Ashley Hall posted rounds of 68 to sit well placed at four under ahead of a group of seven players, including 2009 champion Bae Sang-Moon, a shot further back.
"On the first tee I was nervous, but also excited. But I know as an amateur, I have nothing to lose," said Kim Hui-Soo, who has a third place finish on the university amateur circuit to his name this year.
"I won once last year in an amateur tournament and averaged inside the top 15, but this year I am playing much better."
He started a run of three consecutive birdies on the front nine with a chip-in from short of the green at the par four fifth before holing from a bunker at the side of the par three sixth.
Another streak of three straight gains on the back nine was halted with Kim's only dropped shot of the day, but the teenager quickly made amends with his final birdie at the par five 16th to claim the overnight lead.
"I was very lucky on the front nine as two of my approach shots went in," he said. "While my irons are becoming accurate, my putting is also working very well."
After finishing four shots adrift of runaway winner Kim Dae-hyun last year, 2007 champion Kim Kyung-Tae dropped just one shot in his opening round 67 which the world number 37 finished in style with a 50 foot birdie on the final green.
"I didn't play my best and had a lot of pars, while I was also very lucky with my putting. Overall, I was a little bit lucky," said the 24-year-old, who topped the Japan Tour money list last year after posting three wins.
"This is a very difficult course, but I have been playing it since I was very young so I feel like I know the course."
© 2011 AFP/sid
