Tom Kim wins Asian Games gold with 64 and earns military-service exemption

Tom Kim won the Asian Games men's individual golf gold medal Saturday with a six-under 64 at Kasugai Country Club's East Course in Japan. His 18-under 262 total finished three shots clear and earned him an exemption from South Korea's full mandatory military service, according to the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation and Yonhap.

Kim entered the final round one ahead and strengthened his position with four birdies on the front nine. Another birdie at the 11th and an eagle at the par-five 13th gave him enough room to absorb a bogey at the 17th. His scores improved every day: 67, 66, 65 and 64.

Flushing It's Saturday post marks the gold-medal finish:

Tom Kim's gold-medal result on X

The individual podium needed extra holes behind him. Japan's Kazuki Higa, China's Ding Wenyi and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana all finished at 15 under. Higa took silver with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole, and Sadom secured bronze at the fifth, the APGC reports.

South Korea's team result was silver. Kim, Mun Do-yeob and Kim Seong-hyeon finished at 534, two shots behind China's 532. The event counted the best two scores from each three-player team daily. China closed with a 64 from Ding and a 66 from Jin Zihao to overtake the Korean team; Japan took bronze at 537.

That separates the two outcomes Kim pursued entering Saturday. His individual gold secured the exemption even though South Korea lost its overnight team lead. Sky Sports reports that the exemption is from full military service and still involves basic training lasting less than a month.

The result completes a demanding trip from the Presidents Cup to Japan. For Kim, the final round turned Friday's narrow lead into a medal with a consequence extending beyond the leaderboard.

Earlier reporting: Friday, October 2

Tom Kim shot a five-under 65 at Kasugai Country Club on Friday to take a one-shot lead in the Asian Games men’s golf competition. South Korea also moved into first place in the team standings, giving Kim two routes to a gold medal when the final round begins Saturday, October 3.

A gold in either event would exempt the 24-year-old from South Korea’s mandatory active-duty military service, according to Golf Channel and the Asian Tour. Neither medal has been decided. Kim and his teammates still have a final round to protect their leads.

Kim reached 12 under after starting Friday two shots behind the leaders. Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan are tied for second at 11 under. Higa shot 67 and Wang returned a 68.

The Asian Tour’s round report identified an eagle at the par-five 13th and a birdie at the 16th as important gains late in Kim’s day. China’s Ding Wenyi is fourth after a 70. The top of the board remains close enough for Saturday to change both competitions.

South Korea leads the team event at 20 under, one ahead of Japan. Golf Channel has China and Chinese Taipei two shots back at 18 under. The competition counts each country’s two best scores from its three players in every round, so the team result extends beyond Kim’s individual finish.

Do-yeob Mun shot 69 and is tied for fifth at eight under. S.H. Kim also shot 69 and stands at two under, tied for 14th. Mun has already completed military service, Golf Channel reported; Tom Kim and S.H. Kim are the teammates seeking an exemption.

Golf Channel reported that Kim arrived in Japan after the Presidents Cup at Medinah, where he earned four points from five matches for the International team and beat Wyndham Clark 3 and 2 in singles. Friday’s round has put another consequential team result within reach, alongside the individual title.