MANILA, Philippines - Chan Kim is not going to make the same mistake twice.
Not when he’s just a stroke ahead of his closest pursuers heading to today’s final round of the ICTSI Philippine Open golf championship at Wack Wack.
The 24-year-old Kim went bunker to bunker on the par-3 eighth hole yesterday and wound up with a quadruple-bogey en route to a 73.
Yet he managed to grab the solo lead with 18 holes to play.
“It’s something you want to do only once in a tournament,†said Kim of his quadruple-bogey.
With its dome-shaped green, the eighth hole is a make-or-break hole at Wack Wack. Hitting a shot from the tee is like pitching onto the roof of a Volkswagen.
The hole played 189 yards yesterday and Kim hit an easy six-iron off the tee. He sent it right, hit a branch on his second shot and found the bunkers twice.
Kim was on in five. The rest is history.
“Honestly I was trying to hit it short. Anywhere in the middle short of the green leaves you with an uphill chip and a lot of green to work with,†he said. – Abac Cordero
Landing just short of the green is the best way to play the hole when you’re vying for the Philippine Open crown and the $54,000 top prize.
If needed, he would lay up.
“It depends on the situation. I’ve heard some players in the past players lay up. If I’ve got a one or two shot lead most likely I would,†said Kim.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m going to lay up,†added.
Even in golf, it’s better safe than sorry.