Kim Chan-woo (24-I.K. Birdie Plus) led an “unheralded revolt” to record his first career victory at the 2023 Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour Bizplay-Electronic Newspaper Open, which was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather and course maintenance issues.
Kim carded eight birdies and no bogeys for a 64 in the final two rounds of the tournament, which concluded Sunday at Cosmos Rings (par-72, 7407 yards) in Yeongam-gun, South Jeolla Province. With a final round total of 12-under-par 132, Kim recorded his first career victory by one stroke over tied for second place Lee Sung-ho (BRIC), Jeon Ga-ram (USA), and Jung Yoon (USA). He is the eighth first-time winner this year.
Kim, who was tied for 14th in the first round, three strokes behind the leader, reeled off seven birdies on the day until the 15th hole, the par-4 sixth. He then chipped in for birdie at the eighth (par-5) after his third shot fell just short of the green.
Since making his PGA Tour debut last year, Kim has been a virtual unknown with just two top-10 finishes. His best finish was a tie for third at the Woosung General Construction Open at South Links, which is adjacent to this venue, last September. This time, however, he showed a stronger side to the coastal course and earned his first victory 스포츠토토.
“My goal this year was to maintain my seeding, but now that I’ve won my first title, I want to be remembered as a good player by accumulating more wins, such as two and three,” Kim said after the win.
As the tournament was shortened to 36 holes, the total prize fund was reduced by 25 percent, from 700 million won to 525 million won, and the first prize from 140 million won to 150 million won, according to KPGA rules. Points for the Genesis Grand Prize were distributed as normal.
The tournament became the third 36-hole event in the history of the Korean Tour after the 1983 Busan Open and the 1989 Pocariswet Open. The Cosmos Rings, which hosted the tournament, was known for its unique course design, featuring 365 crater bunkers on a runway-shaped flat area and artillery greens. However, the tournament was shortened due to inclement weather, with the second day of play not taking place at all due to course maintenance issues, and the second round, which was postponed by one day, being called off just four hours after the start.
At the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour’s OK Financial Group Eatman Open at the Club 72 Sky Course (Par 72-6713 yards) in Incheon, sophomore Madasom (Samcheonri) won her first career title after a first-round playoff with Chung Soi (Yellow Tongdak). Madasom, who was tied for second place, one stroke behind the leader after the second round, carded four birdies without a bogey on the day to move into sole possession of the lead, but a bogey at the 17th (par-4) left him tied with Chung at 15-under par 201 for the third round. But he birdied the 18th (par-5) in the first extra round to erase the disappointment of two runner-up finishes this year.