Chan Kim bucks a 7 on a par 3
MANILA, Philippines — Korean-American Chan Kim of the United States hits the golf ball a mile, but he needs to conquer Wack Wack East’s shortest hole Sunday in his bid to win the ICTSI Philippine Open.
Built like a linebacker at 6-foot-2, Kim’s length has been legendary in the first three days of the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation and PLDT.
But his bid for a first pro win almost unraveled during Saturday’s third round at the par-3, 189-yard eighth hole, when he signed for a quadruple bogey 7 after needing five shots to get to the green.
“I’ve heard of some crazy scores posted on that hole before,” Kim, a 24-year-old of Korean descent who was born and raised in Arizona, said. “I was playing two from the right side of the green and I told myself: OK, I can’t get worse than bogey here.
“Little did I know that I would score a 7 there,” he said with a smile, which he could afford after fighting back with three birdies in the back nine to grab a one-stroke lead heading into today’s final round.
Kim used driver just five times yesterday and what got so many glued to his flight was a shot on the par-4, 258-yard seventh hole where he hit 3-iron off the tee and flew his ball past the cup.
Several named players have fallen prey to the No. 8 hole referred to as the “Camel’s Back.”
The legendary Frankie Miñoza could have easily been a three-time Open champion had it not been for an 8 on that hole close to two decades back.
Cassius Casas should have won more than one Open had it not been for a 9 a few years back.
