Taichi Kho overcame final-round nerves to become the first Hong Kong golfer to win an Asian Tour title at the rain-shortened World City Championship yesterday.
Kho, 22, only turned professional in January but held off New Zealand's Michael Hendry to win by two strokes at a soggy Hong Kong Golf Club and claim a place in July's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
Organizers reduced the tournament to 54 holes after heavy rain and lightning impacted Saturday's play.
Play resumed yesterday with Kho holding a four-shot lead over Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines. Kho initially struggled, dropping shots at the third and sixth, but got back on track by making a long putt for birdie at the par-4 ninth hole.
"Being at home, in front of everyone, having my parents here - it just means the world to me," Kho said. "The fans gave me a lot of momentum. Thank you to Hong Kong."
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kho attended the University of Notre Dame on a golf scholarship and took a course on business.
His father Victor is the captain of the Discovery Bay Golf Club team. Kho studied at Discovery College on Discovery Bay.
In August 2021, Kho lost to Japan's Keita Nakajima in the second hole of a title playoff at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, denying him a chance to play at last year's US Masters at Augusta National.
At the age of 10, Kho met veteran golfer Ian Poulter following the Englishman's victory at the 2010 Hong Kong Open. Now, Kho has won against Poulter and Swede Henrik Stenson, the two main attractions in the 120-player field for the World City Championship.
A bogey at the par-4 11th saw Kho's lead cut to one shot over Australia's Travis Smyth and South Korean Seo Yoseop. But birdies at the next two holes, including almost holing his tee shot at the 12th, restored Kho's lead to three shots.
He finished with an even-par 70 for a three-round total of 198. "I was nervous, but I told myself that I will be a better player by the end of it," Kho said.
More importantly, victory at the inaugural World City Championship - only Kho's third tournament as a professional - earned him a place at the Open Championship.
Kho's win came after he made the cut in two Asian Tour events - the DGC Open and the US$2 million (HK$15.6 million) International Series Thailand, where he finished in a tie for 34th on 12 under.
Hendry, 43, closed with a two-under 68 to finish second on 200, with the 28-year-old Smyth another shot adrift in third after a final-round 66.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung congratulated Kho on his achievement.
"Kho's victory on home ground is a solid achievement of the Hong Kong golf sector's efforts in nurturing young athletes," Yeung said.
cjames.lee@singtaonewscorp.com
