Goguntaek's 'Winning Birdie in Overtime'..."I am the Big Match Champion" (Summary)

Shinhan Donghae Open Playoff Victory Over Kongwatmai
3rd Win in 5 Years, Prize Money of 252 Million KRW
5 Years on Korean Tour, 2 Years on Japan and Asian Tours

Go Guntaek's thrilling playoff victory.

On the 10th, at the Incheon Club72 Ocean Course (Par 72, 7,204 yards), Go finished the 4th round of the 39th Shinhan Donghae Open (total prize money 1.4 billion KRW) with a 4-under-par, tying with Patchara Kongwatmai (Thailand) at 19-under-par 269. Then, at the first hole of the resumed playoff on the 18th hole (par 5), he secured the winning birdie. This marked his third win of the season, following the Honors K·Solago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational in July, with a winner's prize of 252 million KRW. Go Guntaek became the first player in five years since Park Sang-hyun in 2018 to achieve three wins in a Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour season. He has held a Korean Tour card for five years and has had two-year cards on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) and Asian Tour.

Goguntaek is roaring immediately after winning in a playoff at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
[Photo by KPGA]

Go started tied for the lead by one stroke, recording one eagle, five birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey. He smoothly reduced four strokes in the front nine with consecutive birdies on holes 4 and 5 and an eagle on the 7th hole (par 5). However, after a bogey on the 10th hole (par 4) and a double bogey on the 13th hole (par 5), he faltered. He changed the momentum with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, then secured a crucial birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5) to push the match into a playoff.

In the first playoff hole, the momentum shifted on the second shot. Go chose a safe 3-on strategy, while Kongwatmai attempted to reach the green in two but his ball landed in the water. After taking a one-stroke penalty, Kongwatmai's fourth shot reached the green, and he made par to apply pressure. However, Go calmly sank a birdie to seal the victory. He said, "I'm very happy to achieve my third win of the season. I'm even more pleased to have competed against players from three tours until the end and come out on top." He added, "I will work hard in the remaining tournaments aiming for my fourth win."

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