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Friday, March 29, 2024

Korean-American teen scores breakthrough win

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NINETEEN year old Korean-American Micah Shin finally scored a breakthrough win in the local pro circuit when he ruled the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open crown at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac last weekend.

If you think success came easy, then think again. Shin has been slogging through the local pro circuit against the country’s best golfers with little success for the past three years before finally annexing his first pro title.

“It took me three years to win and I hope I can do it again,” said the teenager in a published report after he finally overcame his penchant for late-round collapses after taking early leads.

He did it in style by outsteadying current Order of Merit leader Tony Lascuña but not before another late round fumble which almost cost him the title.

Micah Shin (right) gets some sage advice from fellow Davao-based pro Elmer Saban who opted to caddy for him. 

Shin limped home with a double-bogey on the tricky par-three 17th hole. Luckily, he had built a big enough lead, after a brilliant third round 65, to coast to victory.

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He may have wavered in the 17th but Shin, who also benefitted from the sage advice and calming influence of fellow Davao-based pro Elmer Saban who caddied for him, scrambled in the last hole to salvage par in the 18th to bring home the victory.

As if the three-year wait wasn’t long enough. Shin had to wait another hour before he could claim his victory after thunderstorms and lightning halted play of the final group. But after waiting three long years Shin certainly didn’t mind waiting another hour.

“I couldn’t ask for more. It was a memorable Saturday for me. My effort and hard work didn’t go to waste. I had no problem with my game, except on the 17th,” said Shin in a published report.

Shin wound up with a 14-under 274, despite that misstep in the 17th when he dumped his 4-iron tee shot into the water to finish the hole with a two-over par five, to pocket the P450,000 top purse.

Shin hopes to grab more golf titles which should come easier now  especially since he’s finally gotten the monkey, or the pressure to win a maiden pro title, off his back.

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