Lee Kyung-hoon 14th... Hoblan's 'Rookie Victory'

Puerto Rico Open Final Day 5-Under Finish, Bae Sang-moon Ranks 35th

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Lee Kyung-hoon (29, CJ Logistics, photo) delivered a clean finish.

On the 24th (Korean time) at the Rio Grande Cocobiche Golf Course in Puerto Rico (par 72, 7,506 yards), the final day of the 2019/2020 PGA Tour Puerto Rico Open (total prize money $3 million) saw him shoot 5 under par to finish tied for 14th place (12 under par, 276 strokes). During the same period, world stars competed in the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Mexico Championship (total prize money $10.25 million), making the competition for the win relatively easier.

Starting tied for 28th place, 11 strokes behind, Lee Kyung-hoon recorded 7 birdies and 2 bogeys. In the first 7 holes, he exchanged 2 birdies for 2 bogeys, struggling to lower his score, but changed the momentum with a birdie on the 8th hole (par 3). He added 4 more birdies on the back nine, including birdies on the 12th and 15th holes, and consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. His 'pinpoint iron shots' with a green hit rate of 77.78% and an average of 1.71 putts per hole powered his performance.

Although he failed to make the 'top 10' for the second time this season since tying for 5th at the RSM Classic last November, he entered the top 10 for two consecutive weeks. Star rookie Viktor Hovland (Norway) added 2 under par to secure a one-stroke victory (20 under par, 268 strokes). After losing a stroke with 2 birdies and a triple bogey over 14 holes, he tied for the lead with an eagle on the 15th hole and made a 'precious birdie' on the final 18th hole (both par 5s). He earned a winner's prize of $540,000 (about 650 million KRW) and a two-year tour card.

Hovland is the player who caused a sensation by setting the lowest amateur score in 59 years (4 under par, 280 strokes) at the third major, the US Open, last June. He then turned professional, secured his PGA Tour card this year through the Korn Ferry Tour (second-tier tour), and achieved his first win in just seven tournaments. Josh Teater finished second (19 under par, 269 strokes), and Kyle Stanley (both from the USA) tied for third place (15 under par, 273 strokes). Bae Sang-moon (34) finished even par, tied for 35th place (9 under par, 279 strokes).