Kim Kyung-tae shows strong performance in Japan Tour

Kim Kyung-tae (see picture), 30, of Shinhan Financial Group, who is playing in the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO), shows a very strong performance in the beginning of the season.

Kim is tied with Daisuke Kataoka of Japan with a 10-under 270, by reducing three putts in the fourth round of the Crowns in Nagoya GC (par 70), Japan, on Sunday. He beat Kataoka with a successful 1.5 meter, par putt in the first hole of the extended match.

Kim has secured two first places and one second place for the recent three months. He made his first win in this season after an extended match in the Token Homemate Cup last month. Then, he tied for a second place in last week’s Panasonic Open and secured this season’s second trophy in the Crowns.

Kim received 24 million yen (222,037 U.S. dollars), putting himself at the top of the tour’s money list this season. Koreans have won this tournament for three consecutive years including Kim Hyung-sung in 2014 and Jang Ik-je in 2015.

Kim who started in the second place by a two-putt margin laid the groundwork for the come-from-behind victory by cutting three putts with four buddies and one bogey. This win would allow his ranking to jump from in the 60th to the 50th in the world ranking. It increased the likelihood of his joining the Rio Olympics.

김종석기자 kjs0123@donga.com