‘Bulgom’ Lee Seung-taek Wins After 112 Matches

Lexus Masters: 5-Run Victory by 5-Run Margin
Since 2015 Debut, '111 Battles 112 Attempts'
Kang Yunseok, Kim Woohyun, Yeom Seohyun Tie for 2nd Place

"Bulgom" Lee Seung-taek finally achieved his first career victory.

Lee Seung-taek is teeing off at the 2nd hole of the 4th round of the Lexus Masters.
[Photo by KPGA]

On the 1st, at A-One CC (par 72, 7,121 yards) in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, during the final 4th round of the newly established Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour event, the Lexus Masters (total prize money 1 billion KRW), he shot a 7-under-par 65, securing a dominant 5-stroke victory (18-under-par 270). This was his first win after exactly 112 tournaments since debuting on the KPGA Tour in 2015. The winner's prize money was 200 million KRW.

Lee Seung-taek earned the nickname "Bulgom" due to his large physique, weighing nearly 100 kg, and his aggressive playing style. He was a national team member and in 2017, he topped the Asian Professional Golf Tour Qualifying (Q) School. During the 4th round of the 2017 Tee-Up·G-Swing Mega Open, he shot 12-under-par 60, setting the KPGA Tour 18-hole lowest score record that remains unbroken to this day.

However, he repeatedly postponed his first victory because he couldn't overcome the crucial moments necessary to win. He had finished as runner-up three times. In April at the KPGA Founders Cup, he missed a 1.5-meter par putt in a playoff against Ko Gun-taek, which frustrated him greatly. On this day, Lee started tied for 2nd place, two strokes behind Kang Yoon-seok, and recorded one eagle and six birdies (with one bogey). After a bogey on the 1st hole (par 4), he changed the momentum with consecutive birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes, then added two more birdies on the 9th and 10th holes to enter the race for the title. Consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes and an eagle on the 15th hole (par 5) effectively secured his victory.

Kang Yoon-seok, who was the leader the previous day, shot an even-par 72 and dropped to a tie for 2nd place (13-under-par 275). Kim Woo-hyun, Yeom Seo-hyun, and Han Seung-soo (USA) also joined this group. Heo In-hoe, Cho Min-gyu, Hyun Jung-hyeop, and Kim Han-byeol finished tied for 6th place (12-under-par 276). Kim Hong-taek was tied for 10th (11-under-par 277), while Jang Hee-min, Park Sung-hyun, Ham Jung-woo, and Wang Jeong-hoon tied for 14th (9-under-par 279). The prize money ranking leader Kim Min-gyu finished tied for 52nd (3-under-par 285).

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