Kim Chan-woo (24-I.K. Birdie Plus) led an “unheralded rebellion” to record his first career victory at the 2023 Korea Professional Golf (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 Links (par-72, 7407 yards) in Yeongam-gun, South Jeolla Province. With a final round total of 12-under-par 132, Kim claimed his first career victory by one stroke over runners-up Lee Sung-ho (BRIC), Jeon Ga-ram (IND) and Jeong Yoon (USA). He is the eighth first-time winner this year.안전놀이터
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.
Kim, who made his full-time tour debut last year, had 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. However, he showed a strong side to the coastal course and earned his first victory.
“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 better player by accumulating more wins, such as two and three,” Kim said after his victory.
As the tournament was shortened to 36 holes, the total prize pool was reduced by 25 percent, from 700 million won to 525 million won, and the winner’s prize pool was reduced by 25 percent, from 140 million won to 150 million won, according to KPGA rules. There was also no cutoff, and prizes were awarded for ties for 58th place. 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. Cosmos Rings, where the tournament was held, attracted attention for its unique course design, featuring 365 crater bunkers on a runway-shaped flat area and artillery greens. However, the tournament was curtailed by inclement weather, with the second day’s play not taking place at all due to course maintenance issues, and the second round, which was pushed back a day, was suspended just four hours after its start.
Madasom poses for a photo after winning the final round of the ‘OK Financial Group Eatman Open’ at Club 72 in Jung-gu, Incheon, on Sunday. Courtesy of KLPGT
Second-year player Madasom (Samcheon-ri) claimed her first career victory at the OK Financial Group Eatman Open on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour at Club 72 Sky Course (Par 72-6713 yards) in Incheon, South Korea, after a first-round playoff with Chung So-i (Yellow Tongdak). Madasom, who was tied for second place, one stroke behind the leader after the second round, made 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.