Mungyeongjun's Come-From-Behind Victory "Second Win in 6 Years"... Ham Jungwoo Takes 2nd Place

KB Financial Liiv Championship Final Day 3-Under Par '1-Stroke Victory', Defending Champion Seo Hyung-seok Ties for 3rd Place

Mungyeongjun is cheering at the moment his victory is confirmed on the 18th hole of the final day of the KB Financial Live Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] It is a come-from-behind victory for Moon Kyung-jun (39, NH Nonghyup Bank).

On the 30th, at Blackstone Icheon Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,284 yards), the final day of the KPGA KB Financial Live Championship (total prize money 700 million KRW) concluded with Moon posting a 3-under-par round to secure a one-stroke victory (8-under-par 208). This marks his second career win, six years after his first Korean Tour victory at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May 2015, earning a winner's prize of 140 million KRW. The tournament was shortened to three rounds after the second day’s play was canceled due to heavy rain and lightning.

Starting one stroke behind in second place, Moon carved out three birdies. He got off to an early start with a birdie on the 4th hole (par 4), and a 4-meter birdie on the 8th hole (par 4) helped him close the gap to just one stroke behind the leader. Most notably, his green hit rate of 94.44% showcased his pinpoint iron shots. The highlight was a 2-meter birdie on the 14th hole (par 4). After tying for the lead following Seo Hyung-seok’s bogey on the 13th hole (par 4), Moon surged ahead again by one stroke, riding the momentum.

Moon Kyung-jun is a latecomer to golf, having played tennis in high school and only starting golf in his sophomore year of university. When he won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, he revealed his story of overcoming panic disorder in 2008 through meditation and hiking while serving as a public service worker in 2009, which drew even more spotlight. Despite not winning in 2019, he topped the Genesis Award rankings and gained experience on the European Tour last year.

In March, during the second round of the Kenya Savannah Classic, Moon made headlines by holing his tee shot on the 7th hole (par 4, 343 yards), achieving a ‘hole-in-one on a par 4’. "It felt like a dream," said Moon, who added, "This victory has boosted my confidence. My goal this year is multiple wins." He also expressed his ambition, saying, "My European Tour card was extended by one year due to COVID-19, and I plan to get vaccinated in the second half of the year and challenge the big leagues again."

Ham Jung-woo (27, Hana Financial Group) finished second (7-under-par 209), while Seo Hyung-seok, after adding a bogey on the 14th hole (par 4), ended up tied for third place (6-under-par 210) with Kim Tae-ho (26), who posted a daily best 6-under-par. The ‘19-year-old young gun’ Kim Joo-hyung (CJ Logistics) stopped at tied 6th place (5-under-par 211) in his ‘third attempt in two tournaments’. His early surge of five birdies in the first seven holes was halted by a bogey on the 8th hole (par 4).

Mungyeongjun is holding the trophy and posing for a commemorative photo immediately after winning the KB Financial Live Championship. Photo by KPGA

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.