'1st Place' Kim Taehoon "7-Under Par Start"... Jang Donggyu "Did You See the Hole-in-One?"

Published 05 Nov.2020 19:01(KST)

LG Signature Players Championship Day 1: Dongkyu Jang and Jiho Jung Tied for Lead, 1 Stroke Behind Tied 3rd Place

Kim Tae-hoon (front) is watching the ball right after his tee shot on the 4th hole on the first day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Behind him is Kim Han-byul. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "54 holes left."

A green light has turned on for Kim Tae-hoon (35)'s 'Race for the Order of Merit.' On the first day of the final event of the 2020 Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) season, the LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW) held on the 5th at Seowon Valley Golf Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,010 yards), he shot 7 under par to stand tied for 3rd place, just one stroke behind. Jang Dong-kyu (32) and Jung Ji-ho (36) lead the pack at 8 under par, while Lee Soo-min (27), Moon Kyung-jun (38), and Choi Ho-young (23) have joined the tie for 3rd place, creating a fierce competition.

Kim Tae-hoon currently ranks first in both the Order of Merit (2,980.5 points) and prize money (474.79 million KRW). He gained momentum with his victory at the Genesis Championship on the 11th of last month and even gave up his spot to participate in the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup. The Order of Merit winner will receive a dazzling array of rewards, including a five-year Korean Tour card, a 50 million KRW bonus, a Genesis car, and a direct ticket to the European Tour the following year. With seven birdies today, his chances have increased significantly.

He opened the scoring early with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 1 and 3, added birdies on holes 7 and 11, back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16, and finished cleanly with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4). Above all, his 'precise iron shots' missed the green only twice, standing out sharply. Kim Tae-hoon himself expressed satisfaction with his bogey-free play and confidence, saying, "I want to earn a European Tour card." He predicted, "The greens are tricky, so the outcome will ultimately be decided on the putting."

Jang Dong-kyu made a hole-in-one on the 2nd hole (par 3) and added seven birdies (one bogey). "I made a smooth shot with a 6-iron from 205 yards," he said, adding, "This is my first hole-in-one on the domestic stage." He has already claimed four LG Signature home appliances (TV, refrigerator, washing machine, and wine cellar) as prizes from this year's title sponsor and created a golden opportunity to challenge for his second career win after five years and two months since the KPGA Championship in August 2015.

Kim Han-byul (24) ranks second in the Order of Merit (2,975 points) and prize money (417.75 million KRW) but is tied for 70th at even par, seemingly hampered by a 'two-week self-quarantine' following his recent trip to the U.S. Lee Chang-woo (27), ranked 4th in the Order of Merit, is tied for 7th at 6 under par, and Lee Jae-kyung (21, CJ O Shopping), ranked 3rd, is tied for 15th at 5 under par, so a comeback is still possible. Lee Won-jun (Australia), champion of the Bizplay Electronic Newspaper Open, is tied for 15th and aiming for 'back-to-back wins' in two consecutive tournaments.