Mundo-yeop "I'm the Opening Game Champ"..."Double the Joy of Winning with Agency Tournament"

Published 18 Apr.2021 18:51(KST)

Korean Tour 2021 Season Opener DB Insurance Promy Open Final Day 1-Under Par '3-Stroke Victory', Kim Juhyung 2nd Place

Mundo-yeop is cheering at the moment his victory is confirmed on the final day of the DB Insurance Promy Open. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Double the joy."

Moon Do-yeop (30, DB Insurance) emerged as the champion of the opening event of the 2021 Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour. On the 18th, at Oak Valley Golf Club in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Oak and Maple Courses (par 72, 7,147 yards), he added 1-under-par on the final day of the DB Insurance Pro-Am Open (total prize money 700 million KRW) to secure a 3-stroke victory (11-under-par 277). This is his second career win after the KPGA Championship in July 2018, 2 years and 9 months ago, with a winner's prize of 140 million KRW.

Moon Do-yeop started as the 1-stroke leader, recording 3 birdies and 2 bogeys. He had a strong start with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 2 and 4, and although he had consecutive bogeys on holes 8 and 14, he shook off his pursuers with a birdie on the 15th hole (par 5). Above all, his green hit rate of 94.44% and pinpoint iron shots stood out. The victory held special meaning as it was a title sponsor event win. It was the first time in 9 years since Kim Min-hwi (29) won the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2012 as part of Shinhan Financial Group.

Moon Do-yeop is the player who rose to the ranks of major champions by winning the 2018 KPGA Championship. At that time, after a fierce battle with Han Chang-won (30) that went to the second hole of a playoff, he made a winning birdie, making it even more thrilling. He earned various rewards including a lifetime exemption for the KPGA Championship and a 5-year tour card. After ranking 3rd in the prize money rankings, he slipped to 22nd in 2019 and 33rd last year, going downhill. He said, "I've waited a long time," and vowed, "This year, I will aim for multiple wins and the overall title."

‘19-year-old young gun’ Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics) finished 2nd (8-under-par 280), showing signs of recreating the early-season storm from last year. He finished 2nd at the Woosung Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open as a top-ranked world player, and a week later set various milestones such as youngest winner (18 years and 21 days) and shortest time since joining (4 months and 3 days) by winning the KPGA Gunsan CC Open. Since last fall, he has been traveling between the US and Korea to participate in invitational events.

Lee Chang-woo (28) and Ham Jung-woo (27, Hana Financial Group) tied for 3rd place (7-under-par 281). Ham Jung-woo notably took a 7-stroke lead on the second day by shooting 7-under, but struggled with a 7-over on the third day and dropped to a tie for 7th, continuing a ‘rollercoaster performance’ that caused frustration. He recorded 3-under again on this day. Ham Jae-hyung (24), who qualified through the preliminaries and entered the tournament with difficulty, finished tied for 5th (6-under-par 282), securing a ticket to the KPGA Gunsan CC Open starting on the 29th.