NAGOYA, Japan — South Korean golfers Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Seong-hyeon opened the Asian Games men’s golf competition Wednesday with their military exemption hopes still alive after the first round.
Kim Joo-hyung, who plays on the PGA Tour as Tom Kim, shot a 5-under 65? Wait, according to the supplied copy, Tom Kim shot 67. Need correct. Let’s rewrite.
South Korean golfers Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Seong-hyeon, known as Tom Kim and S.H. Kim, respectively, seek a gold medal in the individual or team competition to earn an exemption from mandatory military service in South Korea.
The two golfers started the competition at Kasugi Country Club with scores that kept South Korea within two strokes of Japan in the team standings. The final round will take place Saturday.
S.H. Kim shot 68 and said he felt significant pressure while dealing with knee and back injuries.
“I am 100% nervous,” S.H. Kim said. “A lot of pressure.”
He added that winning team gold would be easier than winning the individual event.
South Korea finished the opening round in second place alongside China at 7 under, two strokes behind Japan. Mun Do-yeob led the South Korean team with a 66, while Tom Kim carded 67. S.H. Kim’s 68 did not count toward the team total because only the two lowest scores count each day.
Japan posted a 9-under 131, with Kazuki Higa shooting 65 and Keita Nakajima adding 66.
In the individual competition, Taiwan’s Wang Wei-hsuan and Japan’s Higa shared the lead at 5-under 65.
Mun, 35, finished tied with four other golfers at 4-under 66. Unlike his teammates, he has already completed his mandatory military service.
“I already finished my military service so I don’t really think about the military (exemption),” Mun said. “But I want to play good, so we make our team get a gold medal … to make sure they don’t go to the military.”
South Korean men generally serve 18 to 21 months of mandatory military service.
The Asian Games golf competition uses 72-hole stroke play. Each team has three players, with the two lowest scores counting toward the team total each day.
Mun said he entered military service early in his career and continued playing some golf while serving.
He said he sometimes taught golf and collected golf balls at generals’ driving ranges, allowing him to play about three times a week.
