South Korean slides from opening-round co-lead; Russell Henley wins in playoff

Kim Ju-hyung plays his shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday. [AFP]
Kim Ju-hyung plays his shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday. [AFP]

South Korean golfer Kim Ju-hyung failed to crack the top 10 at the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge, which carried a $9.9 million purse.

Kim carded a 4-over-par 74 in Sunday's final round at Colonial Country Club (par 70) in Fort Worth, Texas, recording four bogeys without a single birdie.

Kim had shared the lead after a 6-under-par 64 in the opening round, but stumbled with a 2-over-par 72 in the second and failed to recover with an even-par 70 in the third. The final round brought more of the same. Starting the day tied for 27th, he made back-to-back bogeys on the fourth hole (par 3) and fifth hole (par 4), then missed a 2.2-meter par putt on the seventh hole (par 4) after failing to get his approach onto the green in two, dropping three strokes on the front nine without a birdie. He parred his way through the back nine before closing with a bogey on the 18th hole (par 4), finishing the day without a birdie. He ended the tournament at even-par 280, tied for 54th.

The title went to American Russell Henley, who shot 3 under par to finish at 12-under 268 and force a playoff. Eric Cole, who had entered the final round as the sole leader, was undone by a double bogey on the ninth hole (par 4) and could manage only an even-par 70, allowing Henley to catch him.

In the first playoff hole — a return to the 18th (par 4) — Henley made birdie while Cole could only par, giving Henley his first win of the season and the sixth of his career. He took home the winner's check of $1,782,000 (approximately 2.682 billion won).

Defending champion Ben Griffin of the United States closed with a 5-under-par final round to finish at 11-under 269, jumping 16 spots from a tie for 19th the previous day to share third place.


yjc@heraldcorp.com