"'Daesang 1st Place' Park Sang-hyun and 'Prize Money 1st Place' Kim Joo-hyung 'Tied at 4 Under Par'... Joo Heung-chul Leads at 6 Under Par"

Korean Tour 2021 Season Final LG Signature Players Championship Day 1 Battle from Tied 4th, Lee Seong-ho Joins Co-Leaders

Sanghyun Park is examining the putting line on the 13th hole during the first day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "4-under par neck and neck."

The final title competition between ‘Order of Merit leader’ Park Sang-hyun (38, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) and ‘Prize money leader’ Kim Ju-hyung (19, CJ Logistics) has begun. On the 4th, at Seowon Valley Golf Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,010 yards), the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour 2021 season finale, the LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), started its grand journey with both players tied for 4th place on the first day. Joo Heung-chul (40) and Lee Sung-ho (34) are leading jointly at 6-under par.

Park Sang-hyun opened the scoring early with ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 4 and 6, and added birdies on the back nine at holes 11 (par 5) and 15 (par 4). After winning twice this season?at the Woosung Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open in July and the DGB Financial Group Irvine Open in September?he currently ranks first in the Order of Merit points (5235.02 points). He is also competing for ‘3 wins’ with Seo Yo-seop (25, DB Insurance). "I was the prize money king in 2018 but have yet to win the Order of Merit," he said, burning with determination.

Kim Juhyung is teeing off at the 14th hole on the first day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

Kim Ju-hyung also posted four clean birdies at holes 6 (par 4), 11-12, and the final 18th hole (par 4). He leads the prize money rankings with 634.94 million KRW, followed by Seo Yo-seop with 536.62 million KRW and Lee Jun-seok (Australia) with 50.77 million KRW. In the Order of Merit, he is second (4940.56 points) and is actually chasing Park Sang-hyun. Considering the 294.46 point gap, he needs at least an 8th place finish (310 points). The ‘possible scenarios’ include finishing 3rd (520 points) and Park Sang-hyun finishing 17th or lower (219 points).

Park Sang-hyun’s greens in regulation rate is 94.44%, and Kim Ju-hyung’s is 88.89%, highlighting that both players are deploying ‘pinpoint iron shots.’ In the leading group, Lee Chang-woo (28, Srixon) is watching for an opportunity from 3rd place (5-under par 67). He was last year’s champion at the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational. This year, he has made the ‘top 10’ three times in 16 tournaments but has lacked presence. ‘Prize money 2nd place’ Seo Yo-seop is tied for 4th. It is a position ripe for a winning battle.

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