Heo Inhoe Secures Victory "Leading by 6 Strokes"... Lee Taehee Tied for 12th Place

GS Caltex Maekyung Open Day 3 4-Under Par Daily Best, Seo Hyungseok and Byeon Jinjae Tied for 2nd Place

Heo In-hoe is hitting a wood shot on the 9th hole on the third day of the Maekyung Open.

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] Heo In-hoe (34) is in a solo lead.

On the 8th, at Namseoul Golf Club in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do (Par 71, 7,057 yards), during the third day of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), Heo took a commanding 6-stroke lead (9-under 204) by posting a daily best 4-under. Seo Hyung-seok (24) and Byun Jin-jae (32) are in a tough chase, tied for second place (3-under 210). Defending champion Lee Tae-hee (37) is challenging for the tournament’s first-ever three consecutive wins, currently tied for 12th place (even par 213).

It is interesting that Heo In-hoe has not won since the 2015 Dongbu Insurance Promy Open. He is a three-time champion overall, with wins at the 2008 Philos Open and the 2013 KYJ Tour Championship. He has been active in both Korea and Japan, including winning the 2014 Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) Doshin Golf Tournament. Notably, at the Dongbu Insurance Promy Open, he won as a member of the Korean Armed Forces Athletic Corps, which was established for the Mungyeong World Military Games, drawing even more spotlight.

On this day, starting tied for the lead, he recorded six birdies and two bogeys. He succeeded in an early surge with three consecutive birdies from holes 3 to 5. Although he made his first bogey at the 7th hole (par 4), he regained momentum with “stepping stone birdies” at the 8th and 10th holes. A second bogey at the 11th hole (par 3) was offset by a birdie at the 15th hole (par 4) near the end. Heo In-hoe said, "A 6-stroke lead means I absolutely have to win," showing his fighting spirit. Kim Dong-eun (24), who won the KPGA Gunsan CC Open on the 2nd, remained tied for 44th place (6-over 219).