KPGA Gunsan CC Open Day 2: Kim Juhyung Tied 4th at 5 Under Par, 'Gunsan Man' Joo Heungcheol Tied 13th
Ham Jung-woo is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the first day of the second day of the KPGA Gunsan CC Open. Photo by KPGA
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] Ham Jeong-woo (26, Hana Financial Group) takes the lead.
On the 10th, at Gunsan Golf Club Lead & Lake Course (par 71, 7,130 yards) in Gunsan City, Jeonbuk Province, during the second day of the KPGA Korean Tour 2020 Season Round 2 KPGA Gunsan CC Open (total prize money 500 million KRW), Ham shot 5-under par to rise to the top with a 1-stroke lead (9-under par 133). Park Eun-shin (30) and Han Seung-soo (USA) are tied for 2nd place (8-under par 134), while the '18-year-old young gun' Kim Joo-hyung (18, CJ Logistics) is tied for 4th place (7-under par 135), continuing the chase.
Ham Jeong-woo was last year’s 2nd place in the money rankings. In 2018, he earned the Rookie of the Year award by consistently finishing in the top 10 three times out of 13 tournaments. Last year, he grew into a marquee star by finally securing his first victory at the SK Telecom Open in May. Although he led both the money and points rankings for the Player of the Year, he faltered in the last two tournaments and ended up without a title, which was disappointing. He finished 3rd in the Player of the Year points.
On this day, he recorded six birdies and one bogey. After exchanging a birdie on the 1st hole (par 4) with a bogey on the 2nd hole (par 5), he maintained pars until the 8th hole (par 3), where he changed the momentum with a long birdie over 10 meters. He followed with consecutive birdies on the 9th hole (par 5), then again back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes in the back nine, and added another birdie on the 15th hole (par 4). Ham said, "Thanks to winter weight training, my driving distance has increased by about 10 yards, which really helped," and added, "I will focus on my play until the very end."
Choi Jin-ho (36, Hyundai Steel) and Hong Soon-sang (39, Danu) joined the tie for 4th place. 'Gunsan native' Joo Heung-chul (39) posted a unique scorecard with only one birdie on the 7th hole (par 4), placing him tied for 13th (6-under par 136). He made news by winning two of his three career victories at Gunsan CC in 2014 and 2016. Lee Ji-hoon730 (34), champion of the Woosung General Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open, was cut off.
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