KPGA 2022 Season Opening DB Insurance Promy Open Day 2: Park Sang-hyun 3rd, '21-Year-Old Young Gun' Kim Min-gyu Tied 4th in Chase
Lee Hyung-jun is teeing off at the 9th hole on the second day of the DB Insurance Promy Open. Photo by KPGA
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The return of the real man."
‘Reservist’ Lee Hyung-jun (30) surged to 2nd place (8-under 134) in a flash on the second day of the DB Insurance Promy Open (total prize money 700 million KRW), the opening event of the 2022 Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour season, held on the Old Course (par 71, 7,148 yards) at La Vie Belle Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on the 15th, by shooting 9-under par. Jo Sung-min (37) leads (9-under 133), last year’s ‘2nd in the points race’ Park Sang-hyun (39, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) is 3rd (7-under 135), and ‘21-year-old young gun’ Kim Min-kyu is chasing in a tie for 4th (6-under 136).
Lee Hyung-jun is known as a player particularly strong in match play, having won twice at the Munsingwear Match Play in 2015 and 2019 among his total five career wins. He drew even more spotlight by winning the Genesis Award in 2018 without a single victory that year. He has played in all 17 tournaments without ever missing a cut, relying on this consistency as his driving force. After completing his military service in July last year, he returned and is reviving his ‘winning know-how,’ including a tie for 15th at the DGB Financial Group Irvine Open in September.
On this day, he delivered a ‘perfect play’ with 10 birdies and 1 bogey. He got off to a great start with a birdie on the first hole, the 10th (par 4), and consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes. The bogey on the 16th hole (par 4) was quickly recovered with a birdie on the 17th hole (par 3). He added ‘stepping stone birdies’ on the 1st and 3rd holes in the back nine, and two pairs of consecutive birdies on the 5th-6th and 8th-9th holes near the end. He commented, "The green speed is getting faster and faster," adding, "I will focus on putting practice as much as possible" as his strategy.
Jo Sung-min is no pushover. He collected 7 birdies. First-day leader Jung Chan-min (23) struggled with shaky iron shots and dropped to a tie for 11th place (5-under 137) after a tough 1-over par round. ‘2nd in prize money’ Seo Yo-seop (26, DB Insurance) and ‘3rd in the points race’ Ham Jung-woo (28, Hana Financial Group) are watching for opportunities in a tie for 15th place (4-under 138). Defending champion Moon Do-yeop (31, DB Insurance) missed the cut after two consecutive days of tough 2-over par rounds.
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