Korean Tour Asiad CC Busan Open Opens on the 30th: Kim Bi-o's 'March to 3 Wins', Champions Including Lee Jun-seok and Shin Sang-hoon Assemble
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist] "Riding the momentum for a second consecutive win."
‘Korea Open Champion’ Kim Min-kyu (21, CJ Logistics) and Cho Min-kyu (34), who finished second after a three-hole playoff, will face off again in Busan. The KPGA Asiad CC Busan Open (total prize money 800 million KRW), opening on the 30th at Busan Asiad Golf Course (par 71, 7,056 yards), is the battleground. This tournament is especially notable as it was established this year. ‘Two-time champion’ Kim Bi-o (32, Hoban Construction), Lee Jun-seok (Australia), and Shin Sang-hoon (24) are among those challenging for the inaugural championship.
Kim Min-kyu is a next-generation prospect who was selected as the youngest national team member in 2015. At just 16 years old in 2017, he secured two wins on the European EuroPro (third-tier) Tour, and in 2018, he advanced to the Challenge (second-tier) Tour, becoming the youngest winner at the Czech Challenge (17 years and 64 days). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he returned to the Korean Tour and quickly became a fan favorite with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open and KPGA Open in July.
It is unfortunate that Kim Min-kyu narrowly missed victory several times, including second place at the Hana Bank Invitational last October and the Woori Financial Championship this past May. That makes his Korea Open win on the 26th even more welcome. The major victory came with a ‘450 million KRW jackpot,’ instantly propelling him to first place in prize money (724.66 million KRW) and the points race (3,740 points). He said, "I feel at ease" and "I’m riding a good wave," showing his fighting spirit.
Cho Min-kyu regretted the bogey on the third playoff hole when he was leading by one stroke during the Korea Open. Having debuted earlier on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), he won the Kansai Open in 2011 and the Fujisankei Classic in 2016 but has yet to claim a victory on the domestic stage. He has finished runner-up six times already, including the 2011 and 2020 Maekyung Open, the 2017 Genesis Championship, and the 2020 Shinhan Donghae Open. At the Maekyung Open this past May, he suffered from bad luck, including a baffling two-stroke penalty on the final day.
Kim Bi-o has joined the individual title race. With two wins in just five events, including the Maekyung Open and the SK Telecom Open on the 5th, he currently ranks second in prize money (637.39 million KRW) and points (3,215). The winner’s prize of 160 million KRW at this tournament could allow him to overtake the lead. It is worth noting that he holds the lowest scoring average (69.44 strokes). Lee Jun-seok is seeking redemption after failing to defend his Korea Open title. Champion contenders such as Park Sang-hyun (39, Dong-A Pharmaceutical), Jang Hee-min (20), and Yang Ji-ho (33) will also be competing.
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