KJ Choi becomes third Asian to win on USPSA Tour
IN: News | US PGA | Compaq Classic of New Orleans (2002) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 06 May 2002
A performance that culminated yet another fine weekend for Korean golf.
KJ Choi, in his third season on the USPGA Tour after several seasons on the Asian and Japanese Tours, has become only the third Asian to win on the USPGA Tour following the previous wins of Isao Aoki, TC Chen and Shigeki Maruyama. He is the first Korean to do so and the manner of his win and his lead up form suggests this won't be his last.
Choi started the last round with a one shot lead over John Rollins and Bryce Molder who was playing here on invitation from the Buy.Com Tour. He hardly put a foot wrong throughout the last round and by building up a five shot lead with one to play was able to afford the luxury of a bogey at the 18th to cruise to a four shot win.
Choi joined the tour in 2000 after securing his card at the 1999 Tour School. In that first year he failed to retain his full playing status finishing in 134th place and returned to the school where he once again got the job done finishing 31st. This season he has continued to improve with three top tens leading into this event but it would be fair to say that no one would have expected such a commanding and emphatic win. He looked unflappable down the stretch, which is a trait of the many successful Koreans performing around the world.
With Charlie Wi winning last week in Seoul Ahead of 18 year old Kevin Na, 18 year old Korean born New Zealander Eddie Lee winning this week in Korea (see later) and their ladies continuing to plunder the riches of the USLPGA Tour Korean golf has never been healthier. Let's also not forget the efforts of 13-year-old Jae Ahn in the New Zealand Open in January.
Tied for second along with Dudley Hart was Geoff Ogilvy. Ogilvy who has played well in patches this year has struggled to put four good rounds together but has produced some brilliant individual rounds. By keeping it together here he has secured his biggest paycheck ($US396,000) that's close to ($A735,000). Ogilvy now moves to second Australian behind Lonard on the money list with earnings of just over $US500,000. If there was any concern about his status for next season it is now completely put to bed.
One of the more interesting features of Ogilvy's good finishes in the US and elsewhere has been that his best finishes have been on Bermuda greens. He has had second place finishes in Taiwan, Thailand, at Herron Bay (Honda) and now here in New Orleans. Not bad for a man that grew up on bent greens. Mind you having said that he is now amongst the best putters on the US Tour full stop. Steve Elkington was 16th, Peter Lonard who has yet to miss a cut this season 23rd, Frank Nobilo 49th, Craig Perks 49th, Rod Pampling 49th, Steve Allan 57th, and Grant Waite 67th.
