Korea's new stars take charge on two fronts

GOLF DIGEST LET: South Korean In Kyung Kim finished two shots clear of American Michelle Wie after the second round of the Omega…

GOLF DIGEST LET:South Korean In Kyung Kim finished two shots clear of American Michelle Wie after the second round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters yesterday.

Kim shot a seven-under-par 65 on a beautiful day at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.

She carded seven birdies and finished at nine-under-par for the tournament, with Wie in outright second after a solid round of 68.

Kim may be visiting Dubai for the first time, but she is joined by a two-time winner of the event on caddie duties.Terry McNamara worked as Annika Sorenstam’s bagman when she won the tournament in both 2006 and 2007, as well as at her farewell tournament in 2008.

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Kim, who started the day in a share of eighth place, admitted his help was invaluable. “I think he has a little different yardage because Annika hits it further than I do. But he won here twice and he won the par three event twice. I think I have the right caddie here,” she said.

AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Korean Min-Kyu Han upstaged a host of home favourites with a nine- under-par 62 in the first round of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum yesterday.

So dominant was Han’s performance in the morning that Australian Ryan Haller was the best of the rest on five under, while Stuart Appleby, Matt Griffin, Scott Strange, Andrew Dodt and Henry Epstein share third place on four-under.

Adam Scott threatened to shoot a low score, particularly when he collected four birdies to the turn, but a mixed run home left him alongside fellow Aussies Greg Chalmers, Stephen Dartnall and Bronson La’Cassie, Kiwi Tim Wilkinson and Shih-ching Chan of Chinese Taipei with 68.