Kim Young-su '1-Stroke Lead'... Kim Tae-hoon and Lee Soo-min Tied for 2nd Place

LG Signature Players Championship Day 3: Lee Jaekyung Hits 6-Under Par, Ranks 13th; Kim Hanbyeol Ties for 31st

Kim Young-su is teeing off at the 14th hole on the third day of the LG Signature Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Kim Young-su (31, Changwon the Big Hospital) has seized his first-ever victory opportunity.

On the 7th, at Seowon Valley Golf Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (Par 72, 7,010 yards), during the third day of the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour 2020 season finale, the LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW), he surged with a 6-under-par round to take the top spot on the leaderboard (14-under-par 202 strokes). Kim Tae-hoon (35), who leads in both the Order of Merit and prize money, along with Lee Soo-min (27, Srixon) and Kwon Oh-sang (25), are in a close chase at joint second place, one stroke behind (13-under-par 203 strokes).

Starting from a tie for 11th place, 4 strokes behind, Kim Young-su made six birdies. He made his first birdie on the 3rd hole (par 5), followed by 'stepping stone birdies' on the 7th and 9th holes, and then showed a fierce finishing kick with three consecutive birdies from the 16th to the 18th holes. He was a promising player who won all amateur tournaments organized by the Korea Golf Association (KGA) in 2007, including the Songam Cup, Ikseong Cup, and Heo Jeong-gu Cup. Since his Korean Tour debut in 2011, he had not stood out significantly. His best result was a tie for 5th place at the 2016 Korean Open.

Kim Tae-hoon is making an iron shot on the 14th hole on the third day of the LG SIGNATURE Players Championship. Photo by KPGA

"The game went well as I wanted," he said, adding, "My goal is to win." Kim Tae-hoon reduced his score by 5 strokes and joined the race for the championship. If he wins the Order of Merit, he will receive a European Tour card for next year, a bonus prize of 50 million KRW, a Genesis vehicle, and a Korean Tour card for five years. Lee Jae-kyung (21, CJ O Shopping), who is 3rd in the Order of Merit and prize money, is in 13th place (10-under-par 206 strokes), and Kim Han-byul (24, Golfzon), who is 2nd in the Order of Merit and prize money, is tied for 31st place (5-under-par 211 strokes).