From left, Noh Seung-yul, Kang Sung-hoon and Danny Lee

Three male golfers of Korean descent were named on a list of the world's top 25 players under the age of 25 by the U.S. Golf Channel on Thursday.

The channel selected Noh Seung-yul, Kang Sung-hoon and Danny Lee from New Zealand on the list, which it published on its website. Noh, who is making his PGA Tour debut this year, was ranked eighth.

Meanwhile, also named on the list were: Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, U.S. Open champion last year; Jason Day of Australia, who won two majors last season; and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, who became the youngest man to win on the European Tour.

"A ball-striker supreme, Noh already has wins on both the European Tour and Asian Tour in his young career. He’s also made the cut in five of six major championship starts, including all three he competed in last year," posted the channel's sports writers.

In explaining why it had ranked Lee 12th, the Golf Channel wrote, "Winner of the 2008 U.S. Amateur, Lee became the second amateur to claim a European Tour title one year later."

It said Kang placed 21st by virtue of style as much as results. "It wasn't his 120th-place finish on the money list as a rookie last year that was so impressive; it was how Kang did it. Needing a top-three finish at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, he did exactly that, with rounds of 68-71-67-68."

Meanwhile, out of 10 promising players this season picked by Golf Digest, three golfers of Korean heritage -- Noh, Lee and Bae Sang-moon -- were named.