'Korean Express' Park Chan-ho 12 Over Par on First Day... "Bitter Taste of the Pro Stage~"

Park Chan-ho is teeing off at the 2nd hole on the first day of the KPGA Gunsan CC Open. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘12 over par 83 strokes’.

‘Korean Express’ Park Chan-ho (48) experienced the harsh reality of a professional golf tournament. On the 29th, at Gunsan Golf Course in Jeonbuk (par 71, 7,124 yards), during the first day of the KPGA Korean Tour KPGA Gunsan CC Open (total prize money 500 million won), he made only one birdie but gave up eight bogeys, one double bogey, and one triple bogey. He managed to hold on with 3 over par in the front nine, but consecutive bogeys on holes 10 and 11 led to a downhill slide.

At the 13th hole (par 4), he made a bogey, and at the 14th hole (par 4), he suffered a critical blow with a tee shot out of bounds (OB) and a triple bogey. He made another bogey at the 15th hole (par 4), a double bogey at the 16th hole (par 4) after his tee shot landed in the water, and a bogey again at the 17th hole (par 3). Fortunately, he sank a 7-meter birdie putt on the final 18th hole (par 4). Although he unleashed a maximum drive of 319.30 yards, he struggled to keep the ball on the fairway and especially had difficulties on the greens.

Park Chan-ho said, "From the first tee shot, the ball flew into the water hazard, which weighed heavily on my mind," and added, "The strong wind in the back nine made it even tougher." After recently declaring his challenge as a professional golfer, he has experienced the Srixon (2nd division) Tour and entered this tournament as a recommended player. He stated, "The difficulty level between the 2nd division tour and this course is definitely different," and expressed his ambition, "Tomorrow, I aim to score within 10 over par with two birdies."