Clash with 'Top Award Winner' Park Sang-hyun at LG Signature Players Championship Final Round of 2021 Season Opening Next Month on the 4th
'Prize Money Leader' Kim Joo-hyung challenges a clean sweep of individual titles at the final event of the 2021 Korean Tour, the LG Signature Players Championship.
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Domestic No. 1’ Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics) is making a comeback.
He has declared his participation in the Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) LG Signature Players Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), which kicks off next month on the 4th at Seowon Valley Golf Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,001 yards). This tournament is the final event of the 2021 Korean Tour season. This year, the total prize money has been increased by 200 million KRW, making the event even bigger, and the winner's prize has risen to 240 million KRW. It is the last battleground for various individual title competitions such as the money list leader and the Player of the Year.
Kim Joo-hyung currently leads the money list (634.94 million KRW), ranks second in Player of the Year points (4,940.56 points), and holds first place in scoring average (69.31 strokes). It is remarkable that in 13 tournaments, he has achieved eight top-10 finishes, including a win at the SK Telecom Open in June and two runner-up finishes. After the DGB Financial Group Irvine Open in September, he went to the United States to participate in the PGA Tour’s The CJ Cup and challenge the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT), fulfilling his world league schedule.
Meanwhile, Park Sang-hyun (38, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) has risen to first place in Player of the Year points (5,232.05 points), and Seo Yo-seop (25, DB Insurance) has climbed to second place on the money list (536.62 million KRW). All possibilities remain open for Kim Joo-hyung, including defending his top spot on the money list and reclaiming the Player of the Year title. Following Seo Yo-seop in second place, third-ranked Lee Joon-seok (Australia, 507.73 million KRW), fourth-ranked Ham Jung-woo (27, Hana Financial Group, 492.33 million KRW), and fifth-ranked Park Sang-hyun (492.40 million KRW) are all within reach of overtaking him in the ‘top 5’ standings.
Park Sang-hyun’s priority is to defend his No. 1 position in the Player of the Year race. Third-ranked Ham Jung-woo (4,058.87 points) is out of contention and is facing a direct battle with Kim Joo-hyung. A lucrative prize awaits, including a 100 million KRW Player of the Year bonus and a Genesis car. Taking advantage of Kim Joo-hyung’s absence, three champions?Ham Jung-woo (Choi Kyung-ju Invitational), Lee Jae-kyung (Genesis Championship), and Lee Tae-hoon (Canada, Hana Bank Invitational)?have emerged, competing in a ‘two-win race.’ The title competition is heating up as the season nears its end.
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