‘Battling Illness’ Hwang Doyeon: "Now I Want to Win"

Hyunhyeong Stableford One-Card Invitational 1R Leader
Lee Chang-gi and Kwon Sung-yeol Tied for 2nd, Jung Chan-min Chasing in 4th Place

Hwang Do-yeon is physically uncomfortable. Since becoming a professional in the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) in 2014, he has suffered from a torn cartilage in his right knee and spondylolysis. At the Golfzon Open last April, he withdrew on the first day. After rushing to the hospital for a diagnosis, he was found to have high intraocular pressure and blood pressure. Hwang said, "My concentration dropped every time I played, and I couldn't perform as I wanted."

Hwang mostly played on the Srixon (2nd division) Tour. Although he was promoted to the Korean Tour last year, he did not achieve any remarkable results to make a name for himself. At least last year, he maintained his tour card by ranking 36th in the prize money rankings (185.82 million KRW). This year, he has only earned prize money three times in 11 tournaments, ranking 93rd in prize money (15.59 million KRW).

Hwang Doyeon is teeing off at the 13th hole in the first round of the Honors K·Solrago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational.
[Photo by KPGA]

Hwang Do-yeon showed strength after a long time. On the 20th, at the Solago Country Club Sol Course (par 72, 7,264 yards) in Taean-gun, Chungnam, during the first day of the Korean Tour Honors K·Solago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational (total prize money 500 million KRW), he swept up 9 birdies and scored 18 points to take the lead. This tournament is the only one on the Korean Tour played in a modified Stableford format. Albatrosses earn 8 points, eagles 5 points, birdies 2 points, pars 0 points, bogeys -1 point, and double bogeys or worse -3 points.

Hwang explained, "It was a day when my putting was really good. My mid- to long-distance putts were solid." He added, "My tee shots were a bit shaky, but my iron shots supported me well." Hwang, relieved that his health has been improving recently, said, "The weather was really hot. After finishing the front 9 holes, I felt dizzy," but he showed composure, saying, "I ate an ice cream, and after that, I regained my strength." He said, "In the past, my goal was just to make the cut, but my results were not good then," and expressed his ambition, "My goal for this tournament is to finish within the top 10. Now, I want to win as well."

Lee Chang-gi, a Korean-New Zealander, combined 9 birdies and 2 bogeys to tie for 2nd place (16 points). Lee moved to New Zealand at age 9 and currently plays both the Australian Professional Golf Tour and the Srixon Tour. He secured his spot in this tournament by finishing first in the qualifier held on the 17th. Kwon Sung-yeol is tied for 2nd place, while ‘Korea’s Jon Rahm’ Jung Chan-min and Lee Dong-min are tied for 4th place (15 points), engaging in a chase.