KPGA Winners Match Play Opens... 'Players vs. Dream Team' Showdown

Korean Tour Players and Elementary Federation Players Form Teams for Matchup

The Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) announced on the 20th that it will host the 'Timefolio Asset Management Winners Match Play.'

The Winners Match Play is the first domestic tournament where one KPGA Korean Tour player teams up with one male player from the Korea Elementary School Golf Federation to compete. Introduced last year, the tournament provides junior players with an opportunity to showcase their skills while receiving high praise as the best mentor-mentee program between tour players and aspiring young golfers. The event will be held over two days, from the 28th to the 29th, at the Blackstone Jeju South and East courses.

2022 Timefolio Winners Match Play champions Heo In-hoe (left) and Jang Won-young (right). [Photo by KPGA]

The tournament format remains the same as last year. One KPGA Korean Tour player and one Elementary Federation player form a two-person team and compete using the scramble format (each player tees off, and the next shot is played from the better ball position). Sixteen teams (32 players) will participate, competing in an 18-hole team match play tournament from the round of 16 to the finals to determine the champion. On the day before the opening, the 27th, the group draw will take place; on the first day of the tournament, the 28th, the round of 16 (morning) and quarterfinals (afternoon) will be held; and on the final day, the 29th, the semifinals (morning) and finals (afternoon) will be conducted.

The total prize money for the tournament is 150 million KRW (with 50 million KRW awarded to the winner). This amount will be distributed differentially based on performance among the KPGA Korean Tour players. Players affiliated with the Elementary Federation will receive support worth a total of 55 million KRW for training and academic environments, playing a vital role as a catalyst for nurturing talent that will lead Korean professional golf.

KPGA Chairman Gu Ja-cheol expressed, "We sincerely thank Timefolio Asset Management for their support," adding, "Since KPGA places great emphasis on expanding the base of youth golf, we will devote all our efforts to ensure the successful execution of the tournament."