"Dramatic Save" Kang Kyung-nam Maintains Lead at Gunsan CC Open

3R Final 18th Hole Brings Mixed Emotions
Kang Kyung-nam Maintains Lead at 10 Under with 'Chip-in Par'
'Double Bogey' Seo Yo-seop Ties for 2nd, 1 Stroke Behind

Kang Kyung-nam is taking his second shot on the 9th hole of the 3rd round at the Bodyfriend Phantom Robo Gunsan CC Open. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Kang Kyung-nam (39) maintained his lead for the second consecutive day with a dramatic par save on the final hole.

On the 27th, Kang Kyung-nam shot a 1-over-par 73, including 3 birdies and 4 bogeys, in the third round of the KPGA Korean Tour Bodyfriend Phantom Robo Gunsan CC Open (total prize money 500 million KRW) held at Gunsan CC Lead & Lake Course (par 72) in Jeonbuk. He leads by one stroke (10-under 206).

Kang started the day tied for the lead by two strokes and comfortably reduced one stroke in the front nine. However, his shots faltered in the back nine, resulting in consecutive bogeys on holes 13 and 14. On the 18th hole (par 4), his second shot landed right next to a water hazard, putting him in trouble, but he chose to forgo the shot and took a one-stroke penalty relief.

He moved the ball to the rough near the green, and although a bogey seemed the best possible outcome, his chip shot from 25 meters was swallowed by the hole, recording a dramatic par save. Kang maintained his position at the top of the leaderboard by not losing any strokes on the final hole.

Kang Kyung-nam recorded his 11th career win last September at the Bizplay Electronic Newspaper Open. Although he narrowly missed the win after an extended playoff at the Woosung Construction Open on the 14th, he aims for his first victory of the season just two weeks later. He confidently stated, "If I can reduce three more strokes, I can win."

While Kang Kyung-nam smiled on the final hole, Seo Yo-seop (26) swallowed his disappointment. Seo was cruising with 2-under through 17 holes but failed in a rushed bunker escape attempt on the 18th hole, resulting in a double bogey. He is tied for second place (9-under 207).

Lee Sang-yeop (28) and Cho Min-kyu (34) joined the group tied for second. Hwang In-chun (48), who led on the first day, dropped to a tie for ninth place (6-under 210). Cho Sung-min (37), who was co-leader the previous day, lost a staggering nine strokes and fell to a tie for 39th place (2-under 214).

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