Kim Hanbyeol "7-Point Lead"... Kim Juhyung and Lee Junghwan Tied for 2nd Place

Yamaha and Owners K Open Day 3: 16 Points Added, Yeom Seohyun Tied 2nd, Lee Gisang 5th, Kim Sunghyun and Moon Kyungjun Tied 6th

Kim Hanbyeol is taking the second shot on the 2nd hole on the third day of the Yamaha·Owners K Open. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Kim Han-byeol (25, SK Telecom) is on a winning streak.

On the 24th, at Taean Solago Golf Course in Chungnam (par 72, 7,264 yards), during the third day of the KPGA Korean Tour Yamaha Owners K Open (total prize money 500 million KRW), Kim added 16 points with 8 birdies to take the top spot on the leaderboard with 44 points. The tournament uses the Modified Stableford scoring system. Points are totaled from each hole as follows: albatross 8 points, eagle 5 points, birdie 2 points, par 0 points, bogey -1 point, double bogey or worse -3 points.

Starting from second place with a 1-point difference, Kim Han-byeol made 8 birdies. He had a great start with consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2, followed by back-to-back birdies on holes 5 and 6. After three consecutive birdies from holes 9 to 11, he distanced himself from his competitors and added another birdie on the 14th hole (par 4). Leading by 7 points, this marks his third career win, 10 months after his victory at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September last year. It also serves as a redemption after finishing runner-up in a playoff last year.

Lee Jeong-hwan is teeing off at the 1st hole on the third day of the Yamaha·Owners K Open. Photo by KPGA

Lee Jung-hwan (30) scored 18 points with 9 birdies, rising to a tie for 2nd place with 37 points. Prize money leader Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics) also added 16 points, eyeing a comeback victory in this group. Yeom Seo-hyun (30) is tied for 2nd, Lee Ki-sang (35) is 5th with 36 points, and JPGA Championship winner on the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) Kim Sung-hyun (23) and Moon Kyung-jun (39, NH Nonghyup Bank) are tied for 6th with 35 points. Park Kyung-nam (37), who led the previous day, scored only 3 points and dropped to a tie for 11th place with 32 points.