'Inaugural Champion' Han Seung-su Challenges for 2nd Korean Tour Win in 2 Years

LG Signature Players Championship 3R 20 Under Par
Kim Young-su 2 Strokes Behind in 2nd Place... Hwang Do-yeon 3rd
'Defending Champion' Kim Bi-o Tied for 5th

Han Seung-su is making an iron shot at the 2nd hole of the 3rd round of the LG Signature Players Championship on the Korean Professional Men's Golf Association (KPGA) Tour. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] 'Inaugural champion' Han Seung-su (36) is challenging for his second Korean Tour win at the same tournament after two years.

On the 12th, at the third round of the KPGA Tour LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1.3 billion KRW) held at Seowon Valley CC in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72), Han Seung-su shot 7 birdies and 1 bogey for a 6-under 66. He rose to the top with a cumulative score of 20-under 196. He is 2 strokes ahead of second-place Kim Young-soo (33).

Starting from the 1st hole, Han Seung-su reduced 2 strokes with birdies on the 4th and 6th holes but faltered with a bogey on the 8th hole (par 3). His strong finish in the back nine shone. Beginning the back nine on a high note with a birdie on the 10th hole (par 4), Han Seung-su made consecutive birdies from the 11th to 13th holes, reducing 4 strokes, and added another birdie on the 15th hole (par 4), successfully cutting 5 strokes in total.

Having won his first Korean Tour title at this tournament two years ago, attention is focused on whether Han Seung-su can reclaim the top spot at the same event and record his second Korean Tour victory. In 2017, he recorded his first overseas tour win at the Casio World Open on the Japan Tour.

Kim Young-soo, who made 8 birdies without any bogeys, rose two places from the previous day to second place (18-under 198). Hwang Do-yeon (29) recorded third place with 17-under 199.

Kim Min-gyu (21), who was leading until the previous day, lost one stroke including a double bogey on the 8th hole and dropped to seventh place with 14-under 202.

Defending champion Kim Bi-o (32) scored 1 eagle and 5 birdies to finish tied for fifth at 15-under 201.

As expected on moving day, some players made significant jumps in the rankings. Starting tied for 19th, Ham Jung-woo (28) cut 9 strokes to climb to a tie for fifth, and Jung Han-mil (31) also cut 8 strokes to rise 8 places to fourth, entering the leading group.

After the round, Han Seung-su said in an interview, "Rather than worrying about the scores of players competing for the win, I will focus only on my game. The wind on the final day will also be important," adding, "I think a score around 25-under will be enough to win," expressing his aspirations for the final round.

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