Opening Match DB Insurance Promy Open Starts on the 13th
24 Tournaments, Total Prize Money Over 25 Billion KRW, Largest Scale
Main Sponsor Supported Players Challenge for Victory
Veteran and Rookie Players' Throne Battle Highlights
The Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, unfolding on an unprecedented scale, kicks off the 2023 season with the DB Insurance Promy Open (total prize money of 700 million KRW) held over four days from the 13th at the Ravie Belle Country Club (par 72) Old Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
Former champions of the DB Insurance Promy Open, the opening event of the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, including Heo In-hoe (from left), Moon Do-yeop, Kang Kyung-nam, Jeon Ga-ram, Lee Dong-min, Park Sang-hyun, Lee Ki-sang, Choi Jin-ho, and Maeng Dong-seop, are posing for a commemorative photo with the trophy. [Photo by KPGA]
This year, the KPGA Korean Tour will be conducted on a record scale with 24 tournaments, including the opening event, and total prize money exceeding 25 billion KRW. This surpasses last year's previous record of 21 tournaments and total prize money of 20.3 billion KRW. A total of 144 players will participate in the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open. After two rounds, the top 60 professionals (including ties) will advance to the third round. The winner will receive a three-year tour card?one year longer than usual?and 1,000 Genesis Points.
Sponsored by DB Insurance, Seo Yo-seop, Moon Do-yeop, and Jang Hee-min are aiming for victory in the main sponsor-hosted opening event. Moon Do-yeop won in 2019, Seo Yo-seop in 2021, and Jang Hee-min will compete wearing hats emblazoned with the DB Insurance logo and lettering starting this year.
Among them, Seo Yo-seop is attracting attention. Last year, he achieved back-to-back wins at the Bodyfriend Phantom Robo Gunsan CC Open and the LX Championship. He led the Genesis Points ranking until the tournament before the final but finished tied for 15th at the last event, the LG SIGNATURE Players Championship, ending the season second in Genesis Points.
He said, "Putting the disappointing memories behind me, I have prepared well for this season," adding, "My tee shots are stable, and my putting and approach shots around the green have improved significantly compared to last year." He expressed excitement, saying, "Since this is the opening event that all players have been waiting for, I am thrilled," and added, "I will represent DB Insurance with pride and aim to repay with a victory." The most recent player to win a tournament hosted by the main sponsor was Moon Do-yeop, who claimed the title at the 16th DB Insurance Promy Open in 2021.
Nineteen rookies are debuting on the tour this year, all of whom will participate in this tournament. Notable representatives include Kim Sang-hyun, who secured his tour card this season by finishing first in Srixon Points on last year's KPGA Srixon Tour, Park Hyung-wook, a national team member who won twice on the Srixon Tour last year, and Lee Yoo-seok. The most recent rookie to win the opening event was Kim Kyung-tae, who triumphed at the 2007 opening 'Tomato Savings Bank Open.'
This year’s KPGA Korean Tour is expected to enter a period of fierce competition with the absence of Kim Young-soo, who last year won the Genesis Award, topped the money list, and led in top-10 finishes. Kim Young-soo plans to focus mainly on the DP World Tour this year. Veteran contenders for the throne include Park Sang-hyun, who leads the domestic all-time prize money list; Kim Kyung-tae, who holds a lifetime tour card and has returned to the tour this year; Kang Kyung-nam, marking his 20th year on tour; Kim Tae-hoon, the 2020 Genesis Award winner; and Heo In-hoe, who lifted the winner’s trophy at the 2015 opening event as a member of the Armed Forces Athletic Corps.
Park Sang-hyun, who won last year’s opening event, will attempt to become the first player to win back-to-back titles at the DB Insurance Promy Open. On the 12th, during the official practice round, he handed out beverages and jelly from his sponsor, saying, "As last year’s champion, I wanted to do something meaningful," and emphasized, "Since this year’s KPGA Korean Tour is the largest ever, the opening event is very important."
Meanwhile, the Ravie Belle Country Club will host this tournament for the second consecutive year. This year, the par value was adjusted from 71 to 72. The 11th hole, which was a par 4 last year, has been changed to a par 5. This hole was the most challenging last year, producing 143 bogeys, 24 double bogeys, and 3 triple bogeys. The average score was 4.43 strokes, significantly exceeding the par of 4.
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