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Asian Amateur Championship: Augusta Reward For Imperious Han
Dave Seanor Asian Golf Monthly
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Han Chang-won secured a starting place in the 2010 Masters Tournament.
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Shenzhen (November 1): Demonstrating the single-mindedness and poise that so often define Korean golfers, Han Chang-won fired a closing two-under-par 70 on Sunday to win the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship in resounding fashion at Mission Hills.
Han’s 12-under-par 276 total over the World Cup Course was five shots better than runner-up and compatriot Eric Chun.
Jump-started by an eagle-three at the second hole, Han added four birdies and built a commanding six-shot lead midway through the final nine (reaching 15-under) but succumbed to fantasies of the prize – berths in the US Masters Tournament and International Final Qualifying for the British Open Championship at St Andrews – that awaited the winner. As a result, he bogeyed three of the final five holes.
“At the end of the tournament I couldn’t concentrate,” Han acknowledged. “I was a little bit nervous and I started thinking about playing in the Masters.”
The victory was an early birthday gift for Han, who turns 18 on November 5. While he may not have the most technically sound golf swing, Han does possess a deft short game and smooth putting stroke, which should serve him well at Augusta National.
Han said he won’t be intimidated by competing in a Major. “I’m not scared of playing against the players I normally see on television,” said Han, who is assured of being paired with a past Masters champion. “They are great players, but I don’t think I will be scared. At the same time, maybe I can achieve a very good result and learn from the great names that I’ll play with.”
As for the prospect of competing in the 150th Open Championship at the home of golf, Han admitted knowing nothing about the Old Course at St Andrews. “When I get home, I’ll look it up on the Internet,” he said.
Han was individual champion at last month’s Nomura Cup, which was won by Korea. He began the final round at Mission Hills with a two-shot lead over Chun, who plays college golf at Northwestern University in America and is something of a Korean expat.
Chun was born in Korea but grew up and learned to play golf in Malaysia before moving to Australia and the US in pursuit of tougher competition.
Chun, whose birdie at the par-five 16th hole proved crucial, posted a closing 73. His consolation prize made the journey from Chicago worthwhile. He, too, earned an exemption into an Open Championship IFQ. Both he and Han can choose between the venues at Kingston Heath in Australia or Sentosa in Singapore.
Just missing out on earning IFQ berths as runners-up were Kim Meen-Whee of Korea (71), Peter Spearman-Burn of New Zealand (72) and Jordan Sherratt of Australia (73), who finished joint third at six-under-par 282. Kim can blame a double-bogey on the short par-four third hole. Spearman-Burn birdied four of his first eight holes on Sunday, but had four bogeys coming home, including the last hole. Sherratt also faltered down the stretch, making bogeys on three of his last four holes.
Chun said thoughts of St Andrews never entered his mind as he chased Han. “I was just playing golf,” he said.
Having lived in Australia and near Singapore, Chun should feel at home at either IFQ venue. “I’ll look at the courses and see what I like,” he said.
Chun said he was impressed by Han’s focus and calmness on the course. “He made a lot of important putts today,” Chun said. “He was pretty good off the tee until the last two holes. But he didn’t make any real big mistakes, which is what you have to do when you’re leading. That’s what puts the pressure on the guys who are trying to catch you, making them play more aggressively.”
Between shots, Han and Chun occasionally quizzed each other about their respective golf lives. Han was curious about Chun’s training routine and life at a US college; Chun said he asked Han about his practice schedule and future plans in golf.
“I’m real happy for him,” Chun said. “I hope he plays well at the Masters. I’ll be cheering for him.”
Overall, it was an extraordinary showing by Korea. All seven players who came to Mission Hills finished among the top 20 and ties, including Lee Kyoung-hoon, who posted the low round of the day (67) and finished joint 18th.
“I hope my win is going to produce lots of golfers in Korea who will want to come to the Asian Amateur,” said Han. “They will set a goal, practice harder, harder and harder. Now that I have done it and will go to the Masters, it will impact Korean golf very positively.”
Three of the 12 Chinese in the field – Hu Mu, Han Ren and Zhang Xin-Jun – tied for 11th place. Also represented in the top-20 and ties were Japan, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and India – further dashing predictions that the event would be dominated by Aussies and Kiwis.
Such balance bodes well for next year’s Asian Amateur Championship, which is slated for October 7-10 at Kasumigaseki Country Club (West Course) in Kasahata Kawagoe City, Japan. The event was moved ahead in the calendar to avoid conflict with the World Amateur Team Championship in Argentina.
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