Juhyung Kim "First Ever Teenager with 2 Wins Champion"... Amateur Baekjun Kim '2nd Place, 3 Strokes Behind'

SK Telecom Open Final Day: 8-Under Par Over 33 Holes for 3-Stroke Victory, Kim Hanbyeol and Ok Taehoon Tied for 3rd, Ham Jungwoo Tied for 10th

Kim Juhyung is cheering immediately after securing victory at the SK Telecom Open. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The '19-year-old young gun' Kim Joo-hyung (CJ Logistics) has made a new history.

On the 13th, at the final day of the KPGA SK Telecom Open (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) held at Pinx Golf Club in Seogwipo, Jeju Island (par 71, 7,316 yards), he reduced 8 strokes and achieved a decisive victory by 3 strokes (14 under par, 270 strokes). This is his second win in 11 months since becoming the youngest champion (18 years and 21 days old) at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open last July, with a winner's prize of 250 million KRW. He also set a milestone as the first teenager to win twice in KPGA history.

This is his third professional win, including the 2019 Asian Tour Panasonic Open India. Kim Joo-hyung swept 5 birdies without any bogeys in the remaining 15 holes of the third round, rising to a 1-stroke lead. In the fourth round, he recorded 4 birdies and 1 bogey. He distanced himself from competitors with a birdie on the 3rd hole (par 4) and consecutive birdies on the 5th and 6th holes. The bogey on the 7th hole (par 4) was recovered with a birdie on the 9th hole (par 5), and he maintained par on the remaining 9 holes.

Kim Joo-hyung is a next-generation prospect who achieved the fastest win after joining KPGA (3 months and 17 days). This year, he has secured 1 win and 2 runner-up finishes, leading in prize money (474.8 million KRW), Genesis Award points, and average score categories. With this victory, he secured a 4-year KPGA tour card. Saying "I played 33 holes today," Kim Joo-hyung expressed joy, "I'm happy to win again. I will not be satisfied with this win and will focus more on my play."

Amateur Kim Baek-jun (20, Korea National Sport University) scored 4 under par to take second place (11 under par, 273 strokes). Kim Han-byul (25, SK Telecom) and Ok Tae-hoon (23, PNS Holdings) tied for third place (10 under par, 274 strokes), and Choi Min-cheol (33, Woosung Construction) finished fifth (8 under par, 276 strokes). Defending champion Ham Jung-woo (27, Hana Financial Group) failed to reduce his score and finished tied for 10th place (4 under par, 280 strokes). Lee Tae-hee (37, OK Savings Bank) tied for 10th, and Heo In-hoe (34) tied for 16th place (3 under par, 281 strokes).