Kim Dong-min (25), a former national representative, won the first championship in his 66th tournament in the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour.
Kim Dong-min recorded 5 under par 67 in the final round of the KPGA Korean Tour KB Financial Live Championship (total prize money of 700 million won) held at the Black Stone Golf Club (par 72) in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do on the 28th, and a total of 4 rounds of 8 under par 280, his first win in his debut. I was thrilled.
First win since debuting on the KPGA Korean Tour in 2020.
A bronze medalist in the men’s golf team event at the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games in 2018 during the national team, he had a difficult time on his professional stage. He passed the cut in only 19 of 47 contests over three years. Last year, he was eliminated from the cut in 9 out of 21 tournaments in the first half.
Even maintaining the seed was uncertain, but from the end of the season, he shook off the burden of OB and changed drastically. He succeeded in maintaining his seed at 57th in Genesis points by successfully entering the top 10 in three tournaments, including runner-up in the last four tournaments in the second half. This season, he also won his first championship after riding an upward trend by finishing 4th at the DB Insurance Pro US Open and runner-up at the Golf Zone Open.
Kim Dong-min was named the come-from-behind winner, which has become a tradition of this tournament with a wonderful come-from-behind victory.
Kim Dong-min, who was in 10th place by 5 strokes in the lead until the 3rd round, jumped into the competition for the championship by catching 4 birdies until the 9th hole.
He seemed to be far from winning with a 3-putt bogey on the 17th hole (par 4), but succeeded in a thrilling comeback by catching an eagle on the 18th hole (par 5).
With 236 yards left, he boldly attacked the green with a wood and dropped the ball 5m next to the hole. The scene where you could intuit victory. Kim Dong-min, who finished the game first, confirmed the championship when Shin Sang-hoon, who was pursuing by one stroke, made a double bogey on the 17th hole (par 4).
Kim Dong-min, who said, “I didn’t even dream of winning until the third round,” said, “I knew that I was tied for the lead on the 17th hole (par 4). I decided to try the eagle on the 18th hole and chose the 3-wood, but it was close to the pin. I was able to settle down and hit the eagle. The last putt was aimed at the eagle,” he recalled.
Regarding the secret to winning, he said, “I have not won the championship due to lack of accuracy on the tee shot.” He said, “My confidence in my driver shot has increased. There were many OBs whose driver shots went to the right. I intensively practiced driving shots by myself to make good use of them. My tee shot improved a lot compared to the first half of last year, so I gained confidence.”먹튀검증
Kim Dong-min, who took first place in Genesis points with this victory, said, “This year, I want to add one more win and rise to the top in ‘Genesis Points’ to win the ‘Genesis Grand Prize’. I want to participate in the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School Final Stage.” .