Genesis Points Also Enter Top 5
Rookie Award Secured Early with Two Tournaments Remaining
Bae Yong-jun, who received the 2022 KPGA Rookie of the Year Award, is delivering his acceptance speech. [Photo by Choi Tae-won skking@]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] “I was very anxious coming to the Korean Tour for the first time this year, but thanks to the many people who believed in me, I was able to achieve my first win and win the Rookie of the Year award. I will do my best to show an even better side of myself, using the Rookie of the Year award as a stepping stone.”
Baeyongjun, who received the once-in-a-lifetime honor of Rookie of the Year from the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) in 2022, shared these remarks at the 'KPGA Genesis Awards Ceremony' held on the 8th at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Baeyongjun stood out among rookies this season. Not only did he win the Rookie of the Year award, but he also ranked in the top 5 in the Genesis Points. He participated in 16 tournaments, making the cut 13 times, including winning the HonorsK·Solago CC Hanjangsang Invitational, and finished in the top 10 four times. He also competed in The CJ Cup, a PGA Tour event held in the United States, by qualifying through his high ranking in the Genesis Points.
The Rookie of the Year competition was decided early, with two tournaments left in the season. Regardless of the results of the Golfzon-Doray Open, which opened on the 2nd of last month, and the LG SIGNATURE Players Championship held on the 10th, Baeyongjun secured the Rookie of the Year award.
Baeyongjun has been an exceptional player from the start. He served as a national team member from 2018 to 2020. He has been recognized as one of the top talents in Korean men's golf, having won the 65th Heojeonggu Cup Korean Amateur Golf Championship and the Hosim Cup Amateur Championship in 2018, the 23rd Maekyung Solago Cup Amateur Golf Championship, and the 26th Songam Cup Amateur Golf Championship in 2019.
Baeyongjun turned professional in November 2020 and gained experience by competing in both the Korean Tour and the 2nd-tier Srixon Tour last year. In the 2021 Korean Tour season, he participated in seven tournaments and ranked 37th in the prize money standings, securing a full Korean Tour card.
Meanwhile, the 2022 KPGA Genesis Awards Ceremony is the first offline awards ceremony held since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 KPGA Korean Tour season was the largest ever, with a total of 21 tournaments and total prize money of 20.3 billion KRW, spanning from the opening event, the 17th DB Insurance Promy Open, to the LG SIGNATURE Players Championship.
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