'KB Geumyung Champ' Moon Kyung-jun "Marching to 2 Consecutive Wins"..."Match King This Time?"

Mundo-yeop, Kim Dong-eun, Heo In-hoe, and Other Champions Gather This Year; 'Unconventional Play' Variable in Group Stage After Round of 64 and 32 Matches

Mungyeongjun challenges for a '2-week consecutive victory' on the Korean Tour at the Munsingwear Match Play. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] Moon Kyung-jun (39, NH Nonghyup Bank) is on a 'two consecutive wins march.'

The Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Descente Korea Munsingwear Match Play (total prize money 800 million won), which opened on the 3rd at De Beach Golf Course in Geoje City, Gyeongnam (par 72, 7,157 yards), is the only match play event on the Korean Tour. The defending champion Lee Hyung-joon (29) has left his position due to military enlistment in January last year, leaving the title up for grabs. Champions from the 2021 season such as Moon Do-yeop (30, DB Insurance Promy Open), Kim Dong-eun (24, KPGA Gunsan CC Open), and Heo In-hoe (34, GS Caltex Maekyung Open) have all gathered.

Moon Kyung-jun won the KB Financial Live Championship on the 30th of last month, marking his second career victory after his first win in May 2015 (GS Caltex Maekyung Open), ending a six-year drought. Riding this momentum, he is poised to claim the title of 'Match King.' He has participated eight times before, with his best result being 9th place in 2016. This year, seeded 8th, he will face 57th seed Lee Dae-han (31, KM Pharmaceutical) in the first round of the round of 64. He expressed confidence, saying, "My overall shot feel is good," and "I will achieve my first multiple wins since my tour debut."

Lee Hyung-joon's absence is regrettable. He is truly a 'match play specialist,' having won in 2015, placed 6th in 2016, 3rd in both 2017 and 2018, and secured his second victory in 2019. Kim Seung-hyuk (35), the 2017 champion, is aiming to reclaim the title after four years. Another point of interest is whether Kim Tae-hoon can break the 'No. 1 seed jinx.' So far, the No. 1 seed's best performance was Park Sang-hyun's (38, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) quarterfinal appearance in 2012; out of 10 tournaments, six times the No. 1 seed was eliminated in the first round.

It is interesting that after the round of 64 and round of 32, the remaining 16 players are divided into four groups to play three 'group league' matches. The top player from each group advances to the final and the third-place match based on points, a unique format. This is due to the organizer's desire to boost excitement. The problem is that depending on group composition, a player can be eliminated even if they win all their matches. For example, Park Sang-hyun won all three group league matches in 2016 but did not advance to the final.

Park Sang-hyun topped Group B but was edged out by Hwang In-chun (3 wins, 10 points) of Group C and Lee Sang-yeop (3 wins, 8 points) of Group A, both with higher points. On the other hand, Kim Min-hwi (29, CJ Logistics) secured a final ticket with a 2-1 record in 2018 and went on to win. This somewhat diminishes the 'survival battle' nature unique to match play. Players ultimately aim for a large margin of victory to maximize hole difference. Star rookies like Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics) and Lee Jae-kyung (22, CJ O Shopping) are watching for their opportunities.