It was not unfounded confidence.
Go Gun-taek, who said he would win his first championship this year, made valuable results at the DB Insurance Promi Open (total prize money of 700 million won) before the opening of the 2023 season of the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour. Go Gun-taek, who held up his right hand after putting in the champion putt, expressed his joy, saying, “I am happy to hold the championship cup in my arms that I so longed for in the first tournament of this season.”
On the 16th, Go Gun-taek shot a 7 under par 65 in the final 4th round of the tournament held at the Old Course (par 72) at Ravier Bell Country Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do. Go Gun-taek, who recorded a total of 20 under par 268 strokes, beat Park Sang-hyun, who was in second place, by two strokes to reach the top. Reporting his first win on the Korean Tour, he received 140 million won as the winning prize.
It was Park Sang-hyun, who is ranked first in the Korean Tour prize money ranking, and Seo Yo-seop, who has five wins in total, who competed in the champion group with Go Gun-taek for the opening match victory.
As Park Sang-hyun and Seo Yo-seop have shown much better performances in the meantime, there were not many people who expected Go Gun-taek to win. However, Go Gun-taek, who showed confidence in winning this season, did not waver between the two players with high name values. On this day, he tied 8 birdies and 1 bogey to complete a come-from-behind victory with a 7-under par.
The highlight of this day’s play was the birdie on the par 5 15th hole. Unlike Park Sang-hyun and Seo Yo-seop, Go Gun-taek chose a strategy of attacking the pin with the third shot rather than two-on. The odds were right. Go Gun-taek shot his third shot about 2.5m from the hole and made a valuable birdie that played an important role in winning the championship. Park Sang-hyun and Seo Yo-seop sent their second shots close to the green, but failed to reduce the number of strokes due to a mistake in their approach.
Go Gun-taek, a former national team member who has received a lot of attention since his amateur days, has risen to the ranks of top-class players who will lead the Korean Tour with this victory. Ko Gun-taek said, “I want to become a player who is steady and has a powerful shot. I will aim for the most wins, the Genesis Grand Prize, and the prize money king.” I’m happy to do it,” he said with a laugh.
Park Sang-hyun, the winner of this event last year, will postpone his first title defense to a later date. Park Sang-hyun, who was tied for the lead until the 16th hole, had to settle for second place alone with an 18 under par 270 strokes, committing a painful bogey at the 17th hole. Seo Yo-seop, who recorded 16 under par and 272 strokes, was in third place, followed by Kim Dong-min, who recorded 14 under par and 274 strokes, in fourth place alone. Bae Yong-joon, who won the Korean Tour Rookie of the Year award last year, finished the tournament with a 13 under par, 275 strokes, in 5th place alone.
Lee Joo-mi (28), who even considered giving up golf to find a second life, won the first championship in her life at the Korea Women’s Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour Mediheal and Hankook Ilbo Championships (total prize money of 1 billion won). Lee Joo-mi, who came out on top in her 148th appearance, expressed her thrill at winning the prize money of 180 million won and a two-year KLPGA Tour ticket by raising her arms in a ceremony.
Lee Joo-mi shot a 4 under par 68 in the 4th round on the final day of the tournament held at Ferrum Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province on the 16th. Lee Joo-mi, who recorded a total of 12 strokes under par 276, took the championship trophy by two strokes over Park Hyeon-gyeong (23), who was the sole runner-up.
Lee Joo-mi, who debuted on the regular tour in 2015, was an almost unknown player with her highest score until this tournament, 5th at the 2021 Daebo House D Open. However, he was different in this competition. Lee Joo-mi won 180 million won in prize money by showing a near-perfect performance against Park Hyeon-gyeong, Kim Su-ji (27), Park Min-ji (25), and Park Ji-young (27), who had won the KLPGA tour. The prize money he received for reaching the top of this tournament is about 24.54 million won more than last season’s prize money (155.46 million won). In addition, Lee Joo-mi was able to enjoy the double joy of traveling on the KLPGA tour without worrying about qualification for two years. 메이저사이트
The result was a victory by two strokes, but the process was rough. Lee Joo-mi, who started the game today in a tie for 4th place, two strokes behind the leader, seemed to be far from winning as she could not reduce the number of strokes until the 6th hole. However, Lee Joo-mi, who changed the mood with a birdie on the 8th hole, terribly reduced the number of strokes in the second half. Lee Joo-mi, who joined the championship race with a birdie on the 13th hole, took another birdie on the 17th hole to take the sole lead. His finish was also perfect. He confirmed the win by catching a birdie on the 18th hole.
After the game, Lee Joo-mi said, “I still can’t believe that I won. I thought I would cry if I won, but I can’t think of anything. My parents told me to quit golf and find a second life, but with this victory, I was able to overcome my hard times. I feel like I have been rewarded. As I have two more years of time to play on the KLPGA tour, I will achieve my new goal step by step.” Then, he said with a smile, “I think the prize money will be used to buy a new house. It’s a really happy thought.”
Park Hyun-kyung ranked second with a 10-under par of 278, while Kim Su-ji, Lee Ga-young, Park Min-ji, and Kim Min-byeol tied for third place with a 9-under par of 279. Park Ji-young, the winner of this tournament last year, finished this tournament with a 7-under par and 281 strokes for 8th place. Ryu So-yeon (33), who is active on the LPGA tour, tied for 28th place with a 1-under 287 strokes.