Date: May 19, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Griffin emerges victorious from Korean fog

Australia&aposs Matthew Griffin won the SK Telecom Open in Korea after the final round was called off because of thick fog. Griffin led Korean veteran Kang Wook-soon by one stroke heading into Sunday&aposs final round, but when a rolling fog from the extinct Mount Halla volcano descended on Pinx Golf Club there was no other option than to cancel the last 18 holes and crown the Australian champion. Griffin can credit a spectacular 40 foot putt from off the back of the 18th green on Saturday for the win, as it meant he held a one-shot lead over Korean veteran Kang Wook-soon at the end of three rounds. The tournament ended in similar circumstances in 2011 when Kurt Barnes was declared the winner after fog prevented any play in the final round. It was Griffin&aposs second title on the OneAsia tour, with the 29-year-old clinching the victory courtesy of a long putt for par on Saturday that left him a stroke in front of Kang at 13-under par. “It&aposs unfortunate to finish like this, but I&aposll take it,” Griffin said. “I thought my final putt yesterday was big as it gave me the lead, but I didn&apost think it would be the winning putt. It just goes to show you really must try and make everything.” Korean duo Lee Ki-sang and Park Do-kyu and China&aposs Hu Mu shared third place some four shots behind Griffin at minus nine, while Australian&aposs Jason Norris (tied for 10th), Andre Stolz (equal 16th) and David McKenzie (equal 16th) all finished high up the leaderboard.