Korean Cho cruises in OneAsia qualifier
KOTA KINABALU: Korean Rakhyun Cho cruised to a nineshot victory yesterday at the OneAsia Qualifying School at Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club here.
He closed with a five-under-par 66 for a four-round total of 16under-par 268.
American Jeffrey Kang and Doeun An from Australia claimed second position following rounds of 69 and 70 respectively. Kang secured the second card based on count back.
Argentina's Martin Kim was fourth after shooting 74 to finish four strokes further back.
Cho, aged 24, started the final round with a five-stroke lead and ran away with the tournament when he toured the front nine with a bogey-free four-under-par 32.
He dropped a couple of shots on the homeward half, including a bogey on 18, but still came back in one-under-par 34.
American Matthew Negri, who returned a 70, and Sweden's Oskar Arvidsson, in with a 73, finished in a tie for fifth.
Cho will be eligible for all tournaments in 2017 while players ranked second to 10th will be exempt for most events.
OneAsia's early schedule for 2017 was recently announced with four events set to be staged including two national Opens.
Following this week's Qualifying School, the first tournament to tee off will be the Volvo China Open at Topwin Golf and Country Club in Beijing from April 27 to 30.
Boasting prize money of US$2.9 million the event is jointly sanctioned with the European Tour and is now in its 23rd year.
The Tour then heads to the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at Namseoul Country Club in Korea from May 4 to 7.
The Kolon Korea Open will be played at Woo Jeung Hills Country Club from June 1 to 4 while the dates for the China Classic in Beijing will be announced soon.
This year marks OneAsia's ninth season since its launch in 2009.