Ok Taehoon, True Birdie Machine... Leads by 3 Points

Eight Birdies in the First Round of the KPGA Classic
Points Earned in Modified Stableford Format
Choi Seungbin in Second, Ham Jeongwoo Third, Kim Baekjun Tied for 23rd

Ok Taehoon put on a birdie show.

Ok Taehoon is teeing off at the 16th hole during the first round of the KPGA Classic. KPGA

On May 8, during the first round of the KPGA Classic?the only modified Stableford format tournament on the KPGA Tour?held at the Cypress Golf & Resort Northwest Course in Seogwipo, Jeju (par 71, 7,120 yards), Ok Taehoon made eight birdies to accumulate 16 points.

In this tournament, a par is worth 0 points, a birdie is worth 2 points, an eagle is worth 5 points, and an albatross is worth 8 points. In contrast, a bogey results in -1 point, and a double bogey or worse is scored as -3 points. This system encourages aggressive play rather than simply trying to protect one's score.

Choi Seungbin is in second place, trailing by 3 points with 13 points, and is chasing the leader. Ham Jeongwoo is in third place with 11 points. Kim Baekjun, the winner of the season-opening DB Insurance Promy Open, is tied for 23rd with 6 points. Kim Minkyu, who mainly competes on the DP World Tour, is also part of the group tied for 22nd place.