Kim Young-su Achieves 2 Wins in 21 Appearances and 8 Top-10 Finishes
10 Players and 1 Official, Coach, Caddie Honored with Awards
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] “When times are tough, I heard the saying, 'There is no failure in life. Only process and success.' I hope all players overcome difficulties without despair.”
Kim Youngsoo, who swept both the MVP and the money title, shared these remarks at the '2022 Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Genesis Awards Ceremony.'
The 2022 KPGA Genesis Awards Ceremony, marking the finale of the 2022 KPGA Korean Tour season, was held on the 8th at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Ten players, including Kim Youngsoo and Rookie of the Year (Myeongchulsang) winner Bae Yongjun, as well as one referee, one coach, and one caddie, were honored with awards that day.
It is no exaggeration to say that 2022 was Kim Youngsoo’s year. He participated in all 21 tournaments this season, showing fierce performance by finishing in the top 10 eight times, including victories at the ‘Genesis Championship’ and the ‘LG SIGNATURE Players Championship.’ He claimed the MVP, the money title, and the Most Improved Player award selected by the Korean Golf Journalists Association.
As the recipient of the ‘Genesis MVP Award,’ Kim Youngsoo received a bonus prize of 100 million KRW and a Genesis G70 Shooting Brake car. Additionally, he secured KPGA Tour membership for the next five years, an entry ticket to the PGA Tour’s ‘Genesis Scottish Open,’ and a one-year DP World Tour membership.
The money title also went to Kim Youngsoo. He earned approximately 789.16 million KRW this season, narrowly surpassing the previous leader Kim Mingyu, who earned 762 million KRW.
Bae Yong-jun, who received the 2022 KPGA Rookie of the Year Award, is delivering his acceptance speech. [Photo by Tae-won Choi skking@]
The honor of Rookie of the Year, awarded only once in a lifetime, went to Bae Yongjun. He stood out among rookies this season. Besides the Rookie of the Year award, he ranked in the top 5 of the Genesis Points. He participated in 16 tournaments, made the cut 13 times, and finished in the top 10 four times, including a victory at the HonorsK·Solago CC Hanjangsang Invitational. Thanks to his high Genesis Points ranking, he also competed in the PGA Tour’s The CJ Cup held in the United States.
The Rookie of the Year competition was decided early, with two tournaments remaining in the season. On the 2nd of last month, regardless of the results of the Golfzon-Doray Open and LG SIGNATURE Players Championship, Bae Yongjun secured the Rookie of the Year award.
In his acceptance speech, Bae Yongjun said, “I was very anxious when I first came to the Korean Tour this year, but thanks to many who believed in me, I was able to achieve my first win and the Rookie of the Year award. I will do my best to show an even better side using this award as a stepping stone.”
The ‘Rocket Battery Long Drive Award’ was claimed by Jung Chanmin, who recorded an average drive distance of 317.111 yards. The lowest score award (Deokchun Award) went to Kim Bio, who posted an average score of 69.8936.
Kim Hakhyung received the ‘Nikon Fairway Hit Rate Award’ with an average fairway hit rate of 77.0832%. Kim Hongtaek, who showed an average green hit rate of 78.4722%, earned the ‘Ourhome Green Hit Rate Award,’ and Lee Taehee, with a 64.8464% recovery rate, took home the ‘LB Semicon Recovery Rate Award’ after winning four KPGA Korean Tour titles.
Global star Kim Juhyung received the Overseas Special Award. The 2021 ‘Genesis MVP’ winner participated in the July ‘Genesis Scottish Open’ as the Genesis Points leader and finished third. Riding this momentum, Kim Juhyung won the PGA Tour’s ‘Wyndham Championship’ and ‘Shriners Children’s Open,’ and emerged as a star by playing as a member of the International Team in the Presidents Cup.
Kim Jongdeok, who recorded two wins this season and led the KPGA Champions Tour integrated points (64,745.51P) and money rankings (64,755,513 KRW), and Kim Sanghyun, who shone in the Srixon Tour with the Srixon Points (80,851.79P) and money rankings (80,402,046 KRW), received the Outstanding Player Awards.
The hard work of non-players who sacrifice in the shadows was also recognized with awards. The ‘Caddie of the Year Award,’ established last year for caddies who contributed significantly to players’ performances during the season, went to Lee Sunseok, caddie of Kim Bio, who won the ‘41st GS Caltex Maekyung Open’ and ‘SK Telecom Open’ and ranked third in Genesis Points. Lee Kyunghoon received the Outstanding Coach Award, and Han Deokil was honored with the Referee of the Year Award.
Meanwhile, the 2022 KPGA Genesis Awards Ceremony was the first offline ceremony held since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 KPGA Korean Tour season was the largest ever, with a total of 21 tournaments and a total prize money of 20.3 billion KRW, spanning from the opening event ‘17th DB Insurance Promy Open’ to the ‘LG SIGNATURE Players Championship.’
◆ Major Awardees of the ‘2022 KPGA Genesis Awards Ceremony’
- Genesis MVP Award: Kim Youngsoo
- Genesis Money Title: Kim Youngsoo
- Most Improved Player (selected by Korean Golf Journalists Association): Kim Youngsoo
- Myeongchulsang (Castelbajac Rookie Award): Bae Yongjun
- Deokchun Award (Lowest Score Award): Kim Bio
- Rocket Battery Long Drive Award: Jung Chanmin
- Nikon Fairway Hit Rate Award: Kim Hakhyung
- LB Semicon Recovery Rate Award: Lee Taehee
- Ourhome Green Hit Rate Award: Kim Hongtaek
- Overseas Special Award: Kim Juhyung
- Referee of the Year Award: Han Deokil
- Outstanding Coach Award: Lee Kyunghoon
- Outstanding Player Award: Kim Jongdeok, Kim Sanghyun
- Caddie of the Year Award: Lee Sunseok
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