KUALA LUMPUR: Nicholas Fung is hopeful that his hard work on the range will pay off when he returns to the Korea for the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship, which starts on Thursday.

The bespectacled Malaysian has set his sights on punching above his weight at the KR₩1,200,000,000 (approx. US$1,125,000) event which has been a stronghold of the Koreans in the last decade.

The one-time Asian Tour winner is confident that with the right mindset, he will contend strongly at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, which has been the host venue of the Korea Open since 2003.

“I have never made the cut here at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club before but I hope that would all change this week. I’m enjoying my golf at the moment and I just feel I have a good chance this week.”

“The greens are very tough here and it’s a very hilly course. But I’ve gained a lot of experience from playing in Korea over the years and hopefully I can first make the weekend cut,” added Fung, who is looking to gain some inspiration ahead of defending  his crown at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand next week.