'Prize Money No.1' Kim Juhyung Jumps to Joint 2nd Place "Next Target is Grand Prize No.1"... What About Park Sanghyun?

LG Signature Players Championship Day 2: Lee Seongho Leads, 'Prize Money 2nd' Seo Yoseop Chases in Tied 7th Place

Kim Juhyung is teeing off at the 6th hole on the second day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Top money winner’ Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics) rose to a tie for 2nd place.

On the 5th, at Seowon Valley Golf Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,010 yards), the second day of the final event of the 2021 Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, the LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), Kim finished with a 5-under-par round, totaling 9-under-par 135 strokes. Lee Sung-ho (34) took the lead by 2 strokes at 11-under-par 133, with Lee Won-jun (Australia) and Ko Gun-taek (22) tied for 2nd place, and ‘Order of Merit leader’ Park Sang-hyun (38, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) chasing from a tie for 12th place (5-under-par 139).

Kim Joo-hyung recorded six birdies and one bogey that day. He gained momentum with consecutive birdies on holes 3 and 4, followed by a birdie on the 8th hole (par 4). Although a bogey on the par-5 11th hole was disappointing, he made two consecutive birdies on holes 13 and 14, and added another birdie on the 17th hole (par 3) near the end. His two-day green hit rate of 88.89% and ‘computer iron shots’ are showing great power. Winning this tournament would not only secure his money title but also help him sweep the ‘Order of Merit’ crown.

Currently second in the Order of Merit with 4,940.56 points, considering the 294.46-point gap behind Park Sang-hyun (5,235.02 points), Kim needs at least an 8th place finish (310 points). The possible scenarios include finishing 3rd (520 points) while Park Sang-hyun finishes 17th or lower (219 points). Meanwhile, Seo Yo-seop (25, DB Insurance), second in prize money with 536.62 million KRW, is aiming for the money title from a tie for 7th place (7-under-par 137). He became a major champion at the KPGA Championship last August and secured his second win of the season at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September.

It is interesting that this tournament increased the total prize money by 200 million KRW this year, with the winner’s prize also rising to 240 million KRW. Seo Yo-seop can reach his third win of the season and overcome the 98.32 million KRW gap with Kim Joo-hyung (634.94 million KRW) to claim the money title in one fell swoop. On the other hand, Park Sang-hyun’s iron shots faltered, resulting in a 1-under-par round and a sluggish performance. Lee Chang-woo (28, Srixon) joined the tie for 12th place, and third in prize money, Lee Jun-seok (Australia), is tied for 20th place (4-under-par 140).

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