Incheon, Korea: Korean amateur star Cho Woo-young says he wants to turn professional immediately after the Asian Games next month with the gold medal safely in his hands.

Clearly he’s preparing well to achieve that lofty goal after taking the half-way lead at the Shinhan Donghae Open, following an outstanding, bogey-free eight-under-par 64.

The 21-year-old made an eagle and six birdies to go to 13-under for the Asian Tour event, giving him a three-shot cushion over compatriot Kim Bi-o and Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of this event in 2017, who both fired 66s.

Koreans Koh Gun-taek (66) and Ok Tae-hoon (69), Australian Anthony Quayle (70), Thai Phachara Khongwatmai (70) and David Puig from Spain (71) – in second place until a quadruple-bogey seven on the eighth, his penultimate hole – are a further stroke back, on the Ocean Course at Club72, located near Incheon airport.

“I normally don’t play so well after a good first round, but today I got it right,” said Cho, who has already won this year on the Korean PGA Tour, at the Golfzone Open in Jeju in April.

“Second shot is very important to make a good score. For the past two events I have not got my second shots right, but I am this week, and it’s setting me up for birdie putts,” added Cho, who eagled the par-five seventh after his second shot, with a five-iron, found the edge of the green, from where he holed from 30 feet.

Cho will be part of the Korean team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which starts at the end of this month, along with fellow amateur Yang Ju-bin, who withdrew here citing flu, and PGA Tour stars Kim Si-woo and Im Sung-jae.

Cho said: “I would like to turn professional on October 5, immediately after the Asian Games, with the gold medal! I have a minor back injury, but these tournaments are a warm-up, and for me to manage my physical condition.”

It has been a year to remember so far as he was also part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s winning team in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy against the European Golf Association at Spain’s La Manga at the start of August.

Cho first rose to prominence on the Asian Tour last year at the International Series Korea. He was one off the lead after the third round following a 10-under-par 61 – which proved to be the best round of the week, and eventually tied for seventh.

The rising star is bidding to become the first amateur to win the Shinhan Donghae event, which this year celebrates its 39th edition.