Seoul, Korea: Roared on by a huge gallery, Kim Bi-o added another important trophy to his impressive collection of titles when he claimed the 41st GS Caltex Maekyung Open at Namseoul Country Club.

Particularly satisfying for Kim was the fact that it was his first Asian Tour success, although it’s the second occasion he’s donned the green jacket that is awarded to the winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open. When Kim triumphed in 2012, the event was not part of the Asian Tour.

The hot favourite coming into the week thanks to a purple patch that stretches back to the end of last year, Kim carded a battling final round one-over-par 72 to win on nine-under by two shots from fellow-Korean Cho Ming-yu, who signed for a 70.

On a day when organisers estimated 8,000 fans attended, Korean Moon Kyong-jun, winner of this event in 2015, finished third after shooting a 67. Last season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Kim Joo-hyung, from Korea, closed with a 70 to end in joint fifth place.

Kim Bi-o, who led the event since round two, started the final day with a four-shot lead. However, after seven holes he was joined atop the leaderboard by playing partner Cho. But Cho bogeyed hole eight to slip one back before Kim reached the par-five ninth with two fine shots and birdied the hole to move two clear.

Cho’s chances were then shot to pieces when tournament officials handed him a two-stroke penalty on the ninth for standing on the hole’s second green when playing his third. He was informed he should have taken a drop.

It meant Kim was able to cruise home unchallenged on the back nine and enjoy one of the finest most of his career; although there was a minor scare on the last when he sliced his tee shot into the trees before he got his ball back in play and made bogey.

Cho partly made up for the disappointment of his rules infringement by holing a 25-footer for birdie on 18 to finish solo second.

“Today was very tough, I lost my concentration a few times, but I am happy to make it through,” said 31-year-old Kim. “Namseoul Country Club is very difficult, and a lot of good players were chasing me. As I have been doing all week, and all year, I tried to stay in the present, clear my mind and not think about things too much, like my four-shot lead on the back nine.”

He earned a cheque for US$255,536 and moved into second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with winnings of US$402,986. American Kim Sih-wan remains in top spot, despite missing the cut.

Kim Bi-o’s victory underscored his affinity for Namseoul, which began when he tied for fourth in the event in 2007 before claiming equal third the following year, while still an amateur. He’s posted five other top-five finishes in addition to his success a decade ago and becomes the sixth dual winner of the event; no player has won it three times.

A professional since 2009 he only became a member of the Asian Tour after graduating from the Qualifying School in 2020, where he tied fifth, just before the pandemic hit.

And his performances since the Asian Tour’s restart at the end of last year have been the talk of the Tour. Since last November he’s posted seven top-10s in nine events, including five top-five results. Tied second place at the Laguna Phuket Championship in 2021 had been his best finish before today’s breakthrough.

He played on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour early on his career before concentrating on competing in Korea – where he has been victorious on seven occasions, including this week.