By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
World No. 6 Choi Kyoung-ju commanded the largest chunk of the gallery, but the less-heralded Kim Hyung-sung drew the biggest cheer at the SK Telecom Open Thursday, sinking an eagle at the 14th hole to clinch the first-round lead.
Kim closed with a 6-under 66 on a windy day at the Sky72 Golf Club on Yeongjong Island, near Incheon International Airport, while Choi and two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, the event's other high-profiler, struggled out of the gate.
Kim, a 28-year-old KPGA (Korea Professional Golfer's Association) Tour veteran, bogeyed his first hole but recovered by making birdies on the fourth, sixth, eighth, ninth and 12th before nailing the eagle.
Lee Boo-young and Taiwan's Lien Lu-sen were tied for second at 5-under, while Kang Kyung-nam, who topped the KPGA money list last season, was tied for fourth at 4-under.
Choi, who finished a disappointing 41st at the Masters tournament that ended Monday, made birdies on three holes but bogeyed on two and finished the day 1-under par, which tied him at 19th in the standings.
Goosen finished the day at even par, while defending champion Bae Sang-moon finished at 54th with a 1-over par.