Ok Taehoon Sets Sights on First Domestic Tournament Victory

8-under-par Leads by Two Shots on First Day of KPGA Championship
Winner of Asian Tour International Series Korea
Runner-up at 2021 Bizplay Electronic Newspaper Open

Ok Taehoon has laid the groundwork for his first domestic tournament victory.

On June 19, at A-One Country Club in Yangsan, Gyeongnam (par 71, 7,142 yards), Ok Taehoon shot an 8-under-par 63 in the first round of the 68th KPGA Championship (total prize money: 1.6 billion won), taking the top spot on the leaderboard. He recorded one eagle and seven birdies (with one bogey). He leads by two strokes over Kim Youngsoo, who shot a 6-under-par 65.

Ok Taehoon is teeing off at the 14th hole during the first round of the KPGA Championship. Photo by KPGA

Ok Taehoon, who debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2018, previously won the Asian Tour International Series Korea held in Korea in 2022. His best result on the KPGA Tour was runner-up at the 2021 Bizplay Electronic Newspaper Open. This year, he has been on an upward trajectory, finishing fourth at the Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open and tied for fifth at the Hana Bank Invitational, marking two consecutive tournaments in the top five.

Ok Taehoon said, "I will try to do well until the final day of this tournament," adding, "I think my results have improved this year because my putting has been good." He, who finished tied for seventh in this tournament last year, also said, "I didn't really like this course because it favors long hitters, but about three years ago, I decided to focus on my short game, and my results have naturally improved since then."