'18-year-old Young Gun' Kim Joo-hyung "Challenging 2 Consecutive Wins"... This Time a Modified Stableford?

Challenging Victory at 2020 Season 3rd KPGA Open, Han Seung-su's 'Revenge Match', Choi Ho-seong and Yang Yong-eun Join as Attraction Cards

'18-year-old young gun' Kim Juhyung challenges for his second consecutive win at the KPGA Open.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The '18-year-old young gun' Kim Joo-hyung (CJ Logistics) is aiming for his second consecutive victory.

The KPGA Open (total prize money 500 million KRW), part of the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, kicked off on the 16th at Solago Golf Club in Taean, Chungnam (par 72, 7,263 yards). This newly established tournament this year is the third event of the 2020 season, following the Woosung General Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open and the KPGA Gunsan CC Open. What’s interesting is that it uses a 'Modified Stableford' scoring system instead of stroke play, just like the PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship.

Points are awarded as follows: albatross 8 points, eagle 5 points, birdie 2 points, par 0 points, bogey -1 point, and double bogey or worse -3 points. This system encourages aggressive play. The winner is determined by the total points accumulated over each hole. The main focus is whether Kim Joo-hyung can secure back-to-back wins. Last week, he won the KPGA Gunsan CC Open by 2 strokes (16 under par, 268 strokes). At 18 years and 21 days old, he broke the previous youngest winner record of Lee Sang-hee (28), who was 19 years, 6 months, and 10 days old when he won the 2011 NH Nonghyup Open.

Additionally, Kim set a new KPGA milestone by shortening the shortest time from membership to victory, previously held by Kim Kyung-tae (34) at 4 months and 3 days, by 109 days to just 3 months and 17 days. Winning in only his second Korean Tour event, he earned 100 million KRW in prize money and instantly took the top spot in the prize money rankings with 150 million KRW. Kim Joo-hyung also leads in Rookie of the Year and Genesis Award points. He has secured a three-year tour card as a prize. He said, "I still have many areas to improve, such as my short game," and pledged, "I will work even harder going forward."

Kim Joo-hyung is the same player who caused a sensation last November by winning the Asian (APGA) Tour Panasonic Open at just 17 years old. Having lived in China, the Philippines, Australia, and Thailand, he is fluent in English, Chinese, and Thai. Thanks to his performance on the APGA Tour, he is currently ranked 92nd in the world. He entered the Korean Tour with a 'top 300 world ranking' exemption and immediately became a champion. Experts have praised him for his precise iron play and calm game management skills.

'Fishing Swing' Choi Ho-seong has joined the KPGA Open as a crowd-puller.

Last week’s runner-up Kim Min-gyu (19, CJ Logistics) has thrown his hat in the ring for his first victory, and Han Seung-soo (USA), who slipped to third place due to a tee shot mistake on the 18th hole (par 4) on the final day of the KPGA Gunsan CC Open, is looking for redemption. Choi Jin-ho (36, Hyundai Steel), Moon Kyung-jun (38, Husem), Park Sang-hyun (37, Dong-A Pharmaceutical), Lee Soo-min (27, Srixon), Ham Jung-woo (26, Hana Financial Group), and Lee Tae-hee (36, OK Savings Bank) are all eyeing their chances. 'Fisherman’s swing' Choi Ho-sung (47) and 'Major champion' Yang Yong-eun (48) have joined as crowd-pullers.