'85-Yard Shot Eagle' Kim Juhyung Takes Lead "Triple Crown in Sight~"... Seoyoseop 2nd in 'Chase'

LG Signature Players Championship Day 3: Seo Yoseop Enters Prize Money Leader Contention, 'Order of Merit 1st' Park Sanghyun Slips to Tied 11th

Kim Juhyung is examining the putting line on the 1st hole of the third day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist] ‘Triple Crown’.

‘Prize Money Leader’ Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics, 634.94 million KRW) surged with a 6-under-par on the third day of the final round of the 2021 KPGA Korean Tour LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) held on the 6th at Seowon Valley Golf Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,010 yards), rising to a one-stroke lead (15-under-par 201 strokes). The MVP currently ranks second (4,940.56 points) and can overtake by adding the 1,000 points awarded for winning this tournament. He is challenging a clean sweep of individual titles including first place in average strokes (69.31 strokes).

Starting from a tie for second place, Kim Joo-hyung recorded one eagle, five birdies, and one bogey. His early surge was remarkable with an eagle on the 1st hole (par 4). His second shot from 85.4 yards went straight into the hole. He made ‘stepping stone birdies’ on the 5th and 7th holes, consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes in the back nine, and recovered from a ‘3-putt bogey’ on the 14th hole (par 4) with a birdie on the 15th hole (par 4). His maximum drive distance was 327.90 yards with a fairway hit rate of 71.43%, but most impressively, he achieved a 100% green in regulation rate, activating a ‘perfect iron shot’ performance.

Kim Joo-hyung is the player who became the youngest champion (18 years and 21 days old) at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open last July. With his victory at the SK Telecom Open last June, he set a new milestone as the KPGA’s first ‘teenage two-time champion,’ and in 13 tournaments, he has one win, two second-place finishes, and a total of eight top-10 finishes. Since September, he has gained world league experience by participating in the PGA Tour’s The CJ Cup and attempting the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT).

Seo Yoseop is disappointed as his eagle putt misses on the 7th hole during the third day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

Prize money second place Seo Yo-seop (25, DB Insurance, 536.62 million KRW) is positioned in second place (14-under-par 202 strokes), so the battle for the prize money king is still ongoing. Kim Bi-o (31) joined the tie for second place, while ‘MVP leader’ Park Sang-hyun (38, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) only reduced his score by three strokes, remaining tied for 11th place (8-under-par 208 strokes). Being far from the winning zone, Park can only retain the MVP title if Kim Joo-hyung fails to win. The scenario for Kim Joo-hyung to secure first place is ‘3rd place (520 points), Park Sang-hyun 17th place or lower (219 points).’

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