Kim Sunghyun Ties for 6th, Misses Out on Back-to-Back Victories

4-over-par in Korn Ferry Tour Knoxville Open Final Round
Led by 3 strokes through Round 3, but lost the lead on the final day
Nyholm wins in playoff, Keefer finishes second, Lee Seungtaek ties for 17th

Kim Sunghyun failed to achieve back-to-back victories in two consecutive tournaments.

Kim Sunghyun is teeing off at the 2nd hole of the 4th round of the Knoxville Open. Knoxville, USA - AFP Yonhap News Photo by AFP

On May 25 (local time), at the Holston Hills Country Club (par 71, 7,267 yards) in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, Kim dropped four strokes in the final fourth round of the Korn Ferry Tour Knoxville Open (total prize money of $1 million), the second-tier tour of the PGA, and fell to a tie for sixth place with a total score of 15-under-par 269. After winning the AdventHealth Championship last week, he was unable to secure a second consecutive tournament victory. Kim started the final round with a three-shot lead but lost his advantage due to erratic shots, ultimately losing the lead and being overtaken. He recorded three birdies, five bogeys, and one double bogey.

Although Kim missed out on a victory that seemed within his grasp, he maintained his position at the top of this year's Korn Ferry Tour points rankings. In nine tournaments this season, he has achieved one win, two runner-up finishes, and a total of five top-10 finishes. He has already secured a PGA Tour card for next year, which is awarded to the top 20 players in the points rankings.

Pontus Nyholm of Sweden claimed victory in a playoff. He shot a 5-under-par 66 to tie with Johnny Keefer of the United States at 19-under-par 265, then made an eagle on the 18th hole (par 5) during the resumed playoff to secure the win. This marked his first victory on the Korn Ferry Tour, earning him a winner's prize of $180,000 (approximately 250 million KRW). Lee Seungtaek, known as the "Brown Bear," also shot a 5-under-par 66, moving up to a tie for 17th place at 12-under-par 272.