[2021 Newstart 16] ‘Kkotnam’ Kim Dong-eun "Already 1 Win"..."Next Target?"

First Victory at Gunsan CC Open in Korean Tour Debut Second Round: "Aiming for 2 Season Wins, Rookie of the Year, and World League Entry"

Rising star Kim Dong-eun secured his first victory early at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open on the 2nd of last month and has already started hunting for his second win.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyunjun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "A man who loves flowers."

‘Kkotnam’ Kim Dong-eun (24) has emerged as the ‘eye of the typhoon’ in the 2021 Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) season. After finishing 4th in last year’s Qualifying Tournament (QT), he joined the Korean Tour this year and immediately secured his first victory at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open, his second career event, on the 2nd of last month. Saying, "I still can’t believe it," he added his grand ambitions: "I aim for two more wins and Rookie of the Year, and if given the chance, I want to go abroad to challenge bigger stages."

Kim Dong-eun is a next-generation prospect who progressed through the reserve team in 2016 and represented the national team in 2019. Although he secured a seat on the Asian (APGA) Tour last year, he honed his skills on the KPGA Srixon (2nd division) Tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made an early impression by finishing 11th at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September as an APGA Tour member. Known for his drives exceeding 300 yards and his ‘dagger iron shots,’ he also improved his relatively weak putting over the past winter.

It is noteworthy that Kim Dong-eun posted a dominant score throughout the four days of the Gunsan CC Open victory amid severe weather conditions: 2-under par, 2-under par, 1-under par, and 1-under par, totaling 6-under par 278 strokes. On the third day, he especially overcame strong winds of 6.5 m/s. After making three birdies and two bogeys to reduce one stroke and rise to a two-stroke lead, he said, "I’ve never experienced wind like this before," and proudly added, "I usually have a calm personality, so I don’t get shaken much even when crises arise."

The highlight was the 17th hole (par 3) on the final day. From second place, one stroke behind, he made an aggressive play aiming for the pin and managed a 2-meter birdie putt. Then, with Park Sung-guk (33) making a bogey on the 18th hole (par 4), Kim clinched the win by one stroke. Reflecting on the moment, he said, "I thought it was the final showdown, so I attacked the hole directly," and "I heard my heartbeat during the winning par putt on the 18th hole." It is interesting that Kim Dong-eun’s steel mental strength originates from his ‘flower arranging.’ He introduced himself by saying, "I still make flowers and give them as gifts to those around me."

With a three-year Korean Tour card and a winner’s prize of 100 million won, as of the 1st, he ranks 6th in the prize money rankings (112.21 million won), 1st in Rookie of the Year points (952.50 points), and 8th in the overall points race (1,127.50 points), making him a contender for various titles. Moreover, standing 178 cm tall and weighing 72 kg with a solid physique and handsome appearance, Kim is playing a significant role as a ‘box office card.’ He will pursue his ‘second win’ at the upcoming Munsingwear Match Play starting on the 3rd.