'Real Man' Hwang Jung-gon Takes Lead... "GO to Reclaim the Top After 5 Years"

'Korean Tour Major' KPGA Championship Day 2: 6-Under Par Storm Shots, Kim Min-gyu Tied for Lead, 'Top Earner' Kim Bi-o Two Strokes Behind Tied for 3rd

Hwang Jung-gon is teeing off at the 13th hole on the second day of the KPGA Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] ‘Real Man’ Hwang Jung-gon (30) has gained momentum for victory.

On the 10th, at A-One Golf Club in Yangsan, Gyeongnam (Par 71, 7,048 yards), during the second day of the KPGA Korean Tour Major KPGA Championship (total prize money 1.5 billion KRW), he surged with a 6-under-par round to leap to a tie for first place (10-under-par 132 strokes). The ‘21-year-old young gun’ Kim Min-kyu joined the co-lead, while ‘top money winner’ Kim Bi-o (32, Hoban Construction), Maeng Dong-seop (36), and Choi Jin-ho (38) are chasing from a two-stroke back tie for third place (8-under-par 134 strokes).

Moreover, Hwang Jung-gon was the champion of this tournament in 2017. Traveling between Korea and Japan, he has secured two domestic wins including the Maeil Dairies Open in August 2014, and four victories on the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) including the 2011 Mizuno Open, the 2012 and 2015 Casio World Open, and the 2019 Mynavi ABC Championship. After enlisting in the military following the 2019 season, he was discharged last November and has been showing strong form by qualifying for the main event in all five tournaments this season. His best finish last month was a tie for 10th at the Maekyung Open.

Today, his ‘no bogey play’ with six birdies stood out. His ‘pinpoint iron shots’ missed the green only once, and he operated ‘stingy putting’ averaging 1.63 putts per hole. With the chance to reclaim the title after five years, a five-year tour card, and a ticket to the PGA Tour CJ Cup, various motivations have been added. Hwang Jung-gon also said, "My shot feeling was good, so there was no major crisis," and fired up his fighting spirit, saying, "Putting will be key for the remaining two days."

Kim Bi-o (left) and Kim Seong-hyun are examining the putting line on the 14th hole on the second day of the KPGA Championship. Photo by KPGA

Kim Bi-o’s ‘march to three wins’ is ongoing. He has swept two wins in just three tournaments this season, including the Maekyung Open in May and the SK Telecom Open on the 5th, and is aiming to sweep personal titles such as the current money list and the points ranking for the Player of the Year (2,400 points). 2020 champion Kim Sung-hyun (24, Shinhan Financial Group) is watching for an opportunity from a tie for sixth place (7-under-par 135 strokes). Surprise leader from the previous day, Choi Ho-sung (49), faltered with a 1-over-par round and dropped to a tie for ninth place (6-under-par 136 strokes). ‘Tank’ Choi Kyung-ju (52, SK Telecom) was cut.

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