Scheduled to Compete in the 3rd US Adaptive Open Next Month
2022 Champion, Top in Europe and Japan This Year
Also Participating in Hana Bank Invitational and Kolon Korea Open
‘Golf World’s Woo Young-woo’ Lee Seung-min aims to become ‘Number 1’.
Lee Seung-min, a professional golfer with autism spectrum disorder, announced on the 11th through his management company, Volmedia, "My goal this year is to win the US Adaptive Open again and become number one in the world disability golf rankings." The tournament will be held for three days starting from the 8th of next month at Sand Creek Station Golf Club in Newton, Kansas, USA. Lee Seung-min won the inaugural US Adaptive Open in 2022 and finished as runner-up by one stroke last year. He is currently ranked 13th in the world disability golf rankings.
Lee Seung-min is the protagonist who is active as a professional golfer despite having autism spectrum disorder. He was diagnosed with congenital autism spectrum disorder around the age of two, and his intelligence quotient (IQ) is 66, equivalent to the level of a 6-7 year old. He was introduced to golf while living in the United States following his father, who is a diplomat. In 2014, when he was a second-year student at Sinseong High School, he earned the semi-pro qualification from the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA), and in 2017, after five attempts, he became a full member of the Korean Tour. This was the first time for a player with developmental disabilities.
He has also showcased his skills as an invited player on the domestic professional stage. In 2018, he advanced to the main round for the first time at the DB Insurance Promy Open. This year, he participated in nine Korean Tour events and performed well by finishing tied for 37th at the KB Financial Live Championship in May. In April this year, he tied for 49th at the Founders Cup, making a total of five appearances in the main rounds of the KPGA Tour.
In April, Lee Seung-min won the inaugural Glico Paragolf Championship organized by the European Disabled Golf Association, and on the 8th, he collected the winner’s trophy at the 2nd Japan Grand Prix Disabled Open held in Mie Prefecture, Japan. He will compete in the KPGA Tour Hana Bank Invitational opening on the 13th at Namchuncheon Country Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, followed by the Kolon 66th Korean Open starting on the 20th at Woongjeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, Chungnam. He said, "My goal is to pass the preliminary round of the main sponsor Hana Bank’s tournament," and expressed his determination, "I will win the US Adaptive Open again and become the best in the world."
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