[2020 New Start③] 'Jamryong (潛龍)' Choi Ho-young "Challenge Tour 3 Wins Power~"

Integrated Points Ranking No.1 Enters Korean Tour, Skips Rest for Intense Training, "Next Target is Rookie of the Year" Bold Ambition

'Challenge Tour 3-win Champion' Choi Ho-young challenges for the 2020 Korean Tour Rookie of the Year.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The next target is Rookie of the Year."

Choi Ho-young (23, Golfzon) swept 3 wins last year on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Challenge (2nd tier) Tour. He proudly showed consistent performance throughout the season, especially winning the 8th event in June, the 11th event in July, and the 16th event in September. In fact, he confidently topped the overall points ranking with the best average score of 68.58, securing his Korean Tour card and receiving the year-end Outstanding Player Award. He revealed his hunter instinct, saying, "This year, I want to become Rookie of the Year."

Choi Ho-young is a next-generation prospect who comes from the national representative reserve team. After winning a bronze medal in the team event of golf at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, he obtained full KPGA membership in December and honed his skills on the Challenge Tour last year. Most notably, he boasts a long drive distance averaging 300 yards, which is encouraging. It is even more surprising that this power hitter recorded a fairway hit rate of over 70% accuracy.

His iron shot green hit rate is 81.72%, with an average of 1.72 putts per hole, showing virtually no weaknesses. He added proudly, "I have been confident in putting since I was young." Excited about the fact that he can compete on the Korean Tour, Choi Ho-young said, "Seeing Lee Jae-kyung (20) receive the Rookie Award at the Grand Awards Ceremony made me want to be in that position," and added, "Since there is only one chance to win Rookie of the Year, I will pour everything I have into it," igniting his fighting spirit.

He gave up rest and started early physical training to strengthen his stamina. Moreover, the Korean Tour is expected to significantly increase the number of tournaments in the 2020 season. Chairman Koo Ja-chul (65) of Yesco Holdings took office as the 18th KPGA president last November and presented a blueprint to increase the number of events to 20 this season and more than 25 by the end of his term in 2023. "Tank" Choi Kyung-joo (50, SK Telecom) accepted the vice president position to lend his support.

Choi Ho-young’s winter camp is in Thailand. He will depart on the 2nd of next month and focus on improving his short game and course management skills over three weeks. "I have experience competing in several Korean Tour events last year and as an amateur," he said, "Compared to seniors, I felt I lacked more delicate control shots around trouble areas and greens." He resolved, "Since my debut was late, I will collect regular tour trophies as quickly as possible."