Incheon, Korea: Koh Gun-taek made it a hat-trick of wins in Korea this season when he claimed victory in the Shinhan Donghae Open, beating Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Koh, joint overnight leader with Canadian Richard T. Lee, had closed with a four-under-par 68 on the Ocean Course at Club72, bravely matching the formidable clubhouse total of 19-under-par set by Phachara.

Playing in seventh from last group out and starting the day five shots off the lead, Phachara shot a remarkable 63.

The Korean birdied the par-five 18th to catch his Thai rival in regulation play after hitting a brilliant third shot to three feet. He then proceeded to make four again in the play-off, holing a 10-footer.

Phachara, attempting to become the first Thai to have his name etched onto the trophy, had tried to reach the green in two but found the lake in front of the green. He struck his fourth shot to 12 feet and drained the par effort, forcing Koh to make his putt for the win. To the roars of the huge crowd assembled around 18, Koh duly obliged.

Koh’s brilliant finish showed why he has been the dominant player in Korea this year. He leads the Korean PGA Tour rankings having won the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open in April, and the Honors K •Solarago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational in June.

“There have been failures in the past few years, but this is my season,” said the 23-year-old from Jeju, who also won his second event this year in extra time.

“The first win this year was the hardest, but now I am in the mode and enjoying the experience. Today required a lot of patience and concentration. With Phachara having posted such a good score early on, the chase was on. I felt I had to make that birdie putt in the play-off. If not, I felt I was going to lose.

“A victory in an event on this scale, against the best from the Asian Tour and Japan Tour, is simply incredible.”

Phachara was looking to secure his second victory on the Asian Tour – his first was the Laguna Phuket Championship at the end of 2021 – but he took solace from the fact he had found his swing again.

Phachara, who also has two fourth-place finishes to his credit this year, said: “I’m back to my old game now, because I only just found my swing last week, before I arrived at this tournament. I found it with my coach on Sunday night.

“My game now is very good. The best since I started playing golf. Normally my driver is the problem but now it’s great.”

Lee, winner of this event in 2017, returned a 70 and tied for third with Japan’s Keita Nakajima, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Money List after two wins this year, who carded a 66, and Australian Anthony Quayle, in with a 69.

They finished two strokes short of the play-off in the tournament that was tri-sanctioned between the Asian, Japan and Korea Tours.

The Asian Tour next heads to Chinese-Taipei for the Yeangder TPC  at Linkou International Golf and Country Club (September 21-24).