NAGOYA: Tom Kim stormed to the top of the third-round men's golf leaderboard at the Asian Games on Friday as he chases a gold medal to keep him from a spell in South Korea's military.
Kim started the day two shots back from the lead, but a brilliant five-under 65 at Kasugai Country Club that included five birdies and an eagle took him a stroke clear at 12-under par with one round to play.
Kim and his South Korean teammates know there is more at stake than just a gold medal.
Able-bodied South Korean males are usually required to perform between 18 months and two years of military service before the age of 28.
But the Seoul government rewards Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any colour with an exemption.
