Goguntaek Consecutive Victory... 'I Also Wire to Wire'

Lee Seung-taek and playoff battle at KPGA Founders Cup
4th career win, prize money 140 million KRW
Lee Jeong-hwan and Park Eun-shin tied for 3rd, Jang Yoo-bin 6th

Go Guntaek wins in a playoff.

Goguntaek is making an iron shot on the 2nd hole of the 4th round at the KPGA Founders Cup.
[Photo by KPGA]

On the 21st, at Hanmaek Country Club in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk (Par 72, 7,265 yards), the final round of the KPGA Founders Cup (total prize money 700 million KRW) of the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour concluded. Go Guntaek reduced his score by 2 strokes in the final round to tie with Lee Seungtaek at 17-under-par 271. Then, on the first hole of the playoff resumed at the 18th hole (par 5), he secured a winning par. This marks his fourth career victory, seven months after winning the 39th Shinhan Donghae Open last September, with a winner's prize of 140 million KRW.

Go Guntaek started with a one-stroke lead and recorded 4 birdies and 2 bogeys. He gained momentum by sweeping up 4 birdies on holes 5 and 8 through 10. However, after consecutive bogeys on holes 13 and 14, he failed to add any more birdies on the remaining holes, allowing the playoff. Thanks to Lee Seungtaek’s tee shot and a short par putt mistake, Go Guntaek collected the winner’s trophy. He maintained the lead throughout the four days for a wire-to-wire victory.

Lee Seungtaek showed strong finishing power by reducing 7 strokes but missed his first career win opportunity due to a tee shot error. Lee Jeonghwan, Park Eunshin, and Kim Dongmin tied for 3rd place (16-under-par 272), Jang Yubin and Park Seongjun tied for 6th (15-under-par 273), Jeon Garam and Moon Doyeop tied for 8th (14-under-par 274), and Lee Taehee and Kim Bio tied for 10th (13-under-par 275). Jo Wooyoung finished tied for 15th (12-under-par 276), Song Minhyeok tied for 24th (10-under-par 278), and Hwang Junggon ended the tournament tied for 31st (9-under-par 279).

Meanwhile, Hanmaek Country Club will permanently host the KPGA Founders Cup. Chairman Lim Giju stated, "Hanmaek Country Club, where the Founders Cup is held, will provide the course for the tournament." This is the first time a specific KPGA Tour event has been permanently hosted at a specific course. Hanmaek Country Club is the newly established course for this year’s KPGA Founders Cup. Not only is it the hosting course, but it also acts as a sponsor by waiving course fees. Hanmaek Country Club announced that it will continue to waive course fees for the Founders Cup in the future.