Asian Tour: Kim opens with dominant 64 in Korea Open

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Oct. 2, 2008

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- U.S. Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim took an early lead at the Korea Open with a 7-under 64 on Thursday, finishing the opening day two shots ahead of the field.

The Korean-American, one of the sports rising stars, carried on where he left off for the U.S. in Kentucky.

The 23-year-old held a two-shot lead over local Kim Jong-myung (66) in the $1 million Asian Tour event at the Woo Jeung Hills Country Club south of Seoul.

"I have been touched by the support given to me by fans in Korea," Kim told Korean media. "I want to repay them and need to stay focused for the rest of the tournament. I am American but I am also Korean. As a Korean, I am proud to be in the lead, but there is still a long way to go."

The Californian-born Kim birdied the first three holes on a day in which only 33 of the 132-man field broke par.

"I used my driver on almost every hole," Kim said. "There is hardly any rough here so I am comfortable and I like it. I birdied the final hole, which was nice."

Five players were tied for third at 5-under-67.

Ian Poulter, runner-up in the 2008 British Open and Europe's best player at the recent Ryder Cup, shot a 2-under 69 for a share of 15th place.

"I got off to a slow start but picked up the pace at the end of the front nine," Poulter said. "I missed a few birdie chances. I played quite steady today and hopefully I can shoot better tomorrow."

Scores: Korea Open
Scores Thursday from the $1 million Korea Open at the par-71 6,425-meter (7,042-yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a-denotes amateur):
Anthony Kim, United States 64
Kim Jong-myung, South Korea 66
Park Nam-sin, South Korea 67
Bae Sang-moon, South Korea 67
Ben Leong, Malaysia 67
Kim Dae-sub, South Korea 67
Kim Wi-joong, South Korea 67
Simon Griffiths, England 68
Hong Soon-sang, South Korea 68
Kim Meen-whee, South Korea 68
Rick Kulacz, Australia 68
Juvic Pagunsan, Philippines 68
Tony Carolan, Australia 68
Kang Kyung-nam, South Korea 68
Ian Poulter, England 69
Zaw Moe, Myanmar 69
a-Kim Woo-hyun, South Korea 69
Kang Sung-hoon, South Korea 69
Jeong Gi-ho, South Korea 70
Noh Seung-yul, South Korea 70
Jung Jae-hoon, South Korea 70
Lien Luhsen, Taiwan 70
Hwang In-choon, South Korea 70
Kim Hyung-tae, South Korea 70
Jason King, Australia 70
Artemio Murakami, Philippines 70
Wisut Artjanawat, Thailand 70
S K Ho, South Korea 70
Rhys Davies, Wales 70
a-Song Tae-hoon, South Korea 70
Park Sung-kook, South Korea 70
Jun Tae-hyun, South Korea 70
Kang Kyung-sool, South Korea 70
Anthony Kang, United States 71
Bang Doo-hwan, South Korea 71
Kim Sang-ki, South Korea 71
Lee In-woo, South Korea 71
Kim Chang-yoon, South Korea 71
Kim Dae-hyun, South Korea 71
Bae Sung-chul, South Korea 71
Simon Hurd, England 71
Kang Ji-man, South Korea 71
a-Cho Hyun-woo, South Korea 71
Brad Kennedy, Australia 71
Moon Kyong-jun, South Korea 72
Gavin Flint, Australia 72
Park No-seok, South Korea 72
a-Lee Jung-hwan, South Korea 72
Park Hyo-won, South Korea 72
Choi Gwang-soo, South Korea 72
a-Kim Bi-o, South Korea 72
Kim Do-hoon II, South Korea 72
a-Yoon Jung-ho, South Korea 72
Lam Chihbing, Singapore 72
Stephen Scahill, New Zealand 72
Chapchai Nirat, Thailand 72
Choi Ho-sung, South Korea 72
Lee Tae-kyu, South Korea 72
Park Young-soo, South Korea 72
Park Do-kyu, South Korea 72
Thaworn Wiratchant, Thailand 72
Kodai Ichihara, Japan 72
Kim Sung-yoon, South Korea 72
Bae Kyu-tae, South Korea 72
Park Sang-hyun, South Korea 72
Yoo Jung-goo, South Korea 72
Jason Knutzon, United States 72
Lee Yong-hun, South Korea 72
Hur Won-kyong, South Korea 72
Choi Sang-ho, South Korea 72
Choi In-sik, South Korea 73
a-Park Jeng-dea, South Korea 73
Park Boo-won, South Korea 73
Richard Lee, New Zealand 73
Somkiat Srisanga, Thailand 73
Ted Oh, South Korea 73
Kang Wook-soon, South Korea 73
Gaganjeet Bhullar, India 73
Mars Pucay, Philippines 73
Kim Do-hoon I, South Korea 73
a-Park Il-hwan, South Korea 73
Shin Yong-jin, South Korea 73
Adam Blyth, Australia 73
Lee Boo-young, South Korea 73
a-Lee Dai-han, South Korea 73
Neven Basic, Australia 73
Guido Van der Valk, Netherlands 73
Mitchell Brown, Australia 73
Lee Jin-won, South Korea 74
Park Jae-bum, South Korea 74
Lu Weichih, China 74
a-Kim Gi-hwan, South Korea 74
Rahil Gangjee, India 74
Park Se-woong, South Korea 74
Kong Young-joon, South Korea 74
David Bransdon, Australia 74
Hendrik Buhrmann, South Africa 75
Adam Groom, Australia 75
Kwon Myung-ho, South Korea 75
Choi Hyun, South Korea 75
Kim Kyung-tae, South Korea 75
Andrew Dodt, Australia 75
a-Kim Young-soo, South Korea 75
Thammanoon Srirot, Thailand 75
David Gleeson, Australia 75
Choi Jin-ho, South Korea 75
Yoon Hyung-uk, South Korea 75
Udorn Duangedcha, Thailand 75
Mike Cuning, United States 76
Marcus Both, Australia 76
Antonio Lascuna, Philippines 76
Choi Hyuk-jae, South Korea 76
Hur In-hoi, South Korea 76
Mo Joong-kyung, South Korea 76
Atthaphon Prathummanee, Thailand 76
a-Lee Kyoung-hoon, South Korea 76
Cho Hyun-jun, South Korea 76
Kim Seong-yong, South Korea 76
Danny Chia, Malaysia 77
Ross Bain, Scotland 77
Lee Keun-ho, South Korea 77
Wang Terchang, Taiwan 77
Todd Vernon, United States 77
Yasin Ali, England 77
Kim Hyung-sung, South Korea 77
Lee Sung, South Korea 77
Young Nam, South Korea 78
Mark Brown, New Zealand 78
Jo Hyo-jun, South Korea 78
Amandeep Johl, India 80
Kim Byung-kwan, South Korea 80
Suk Jong-yul, South Korea 81

New Zealander Mark Brown, who comfortably leads the Asian Tour order of merit, had a poor day, shooting a 7-over 78 to be fourth-last.

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