'Champion' Ryu Hyun-woo and 40 Others Secure KPGA Korean Tour Entry Rights for Next Year

Ryu Hyun-woo Wins KPGA Korean Tour QT Final Stage with Total 14-Under 274 Strokes

Ryu Hyun-woo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] Ryu Hyun-woo (41) won the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT) Final Stage, securing his spot to compete in next year's KPGA Tour.

Ryu Hyun-woo recorded a 5-under-par 67 in the final round of the KPGA Korean Tour QT Final Stage held at Gunsan Country Club Lead-Lake Course (Par 72, 7,156 yards) in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, finishing with a total score of 14-under-par 274. He edged out second-place Jeong Se-yoon by one stroke to claim the championship.

Ryu Hyun-woo joined the KPGA as a professional (associate member) in 2000 and became a KPGA Tour professional (full member) in 2002. He debuted on the KPGA Korean Tour in 2008. Since then, he has competed between Korea and Japan, winning four titles including the 25th Shinhan Donghae Open and the 32nd GS Caltex Maekyung Open, and he also won the KPGA Player of the Year award in 2013.

Ryu said, "My family really wanted to see me active in Korea. That's why I participated in this KPGA Korean Tour QT. I plan to continue playing on the Japan Tour in 2023 as well, but I want to achieve good results on the KPGA Korean Tour to bring more joy to my family." He added, "Since winning the KPGA Player of the Year in 2013, I haven't won any titles. My goal for the 2023 season is to perform well enough to be in a position to win a title."

Ryu said, "My family really wanted to see me active in Korea. That's why I participated in this KPGA Korean Tour QT. I plan to continue playing on the Japan Tour in 2023 as well, but I want to achieve good results on the KPGA Korean Tour to bring more joy to my family." He added, "Since winning the KPGA Player of the Year in 2013, I haven't won any titles. My goal for the 2023 season is to perform well enough to be in a position to win a title."

The KPGA Korean Tour QT Final Stage is a tournament where the right to participate in the 2023 KPGA Tour is at stake. A total of 120 players participated in this event, and the winner plus the top 40 finishers (a total of 41 players) earned the right to compete in next season.

Eligibility for the QT Final Stage is divided into six categories: ▲20 players ranked 71st or lower in Genesis Points ▲Players ranked 71st to 90th in Genesis Prize Money Ranking ▲Past KPGA Korean Tour winners from 2013 to 2022 ▲Players ranked 11th to 20th in Srixon Tour Points ▲Returning overseas tour card holders ▲Players who passed the KPGA Korean Tour QT Stage 2.

Jeong Se-yoon (27), who had led alone until the previous day, shot a 2-over-par 74 on the final day and finished second with a total score of 13-under-par 275.

Kim Seung-hyun (26), Ko Seok-wan (Canada), Park Sung-jun (36), and Jang Seung-bo (26) tied for third place with a total score of 12-under-par 276, securing their tour cards.

Kim Byung-jun (40), winner of the 54th Daishin Securities KPGA Championship, finished tied for 7th with 11-under-par 277; Kim Woo-hyun (31) tied for 14th with 9-under-par 279; Maeng Seung-jae (28) tied for 18th with 8-under-par 280; and Kim Ki-hwan (31, Volvik), recipient of the Deokchun Award in 2012 and 2015, tied for 24th with 7-under-par 281.

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