Junhong Park Makes Waves: "I Won't Get Greedy Just Because I'm in the Lead"

Seven-Under Surge in KPGA Gyeongbuk Open Round 1
Former National Team Member, Best Career Finish: Runner-Up
"I Will Continue to Play Aggressively"

This is the breakthrough of Junhong Park, now in his fourth year as a professional.

On October 1, at Hanmaek Country Club in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province (par 72, 7,315 yards), Junhong Park played in the first round of the newly established KPGA Gyeongbuk Open on the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, which has a total prize fund of 700 million won. He recorded eight birdies and one bogey, finishing the day at seven-under-par 65 to take the top spot on the leaderboard. Despite the challenging conditions with play delayed nine times due to heavy fog, he delivered an outstanding performance.

Junhong Park is teeing off in the first round of the KPGA Gyeongbuk Open. Photo by KPGA

Junhong Park is a player who was previously a member of the national team and debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2022. His best career results are second place at the 66th KPGA Championship in 2023 and a tie for second at the Woori Financial Championship in April this year. He currently ranks 51st in Genesis Points (1,180.5 points) and 22nd on the money list (171,273,701 won).

In a post-round interview, Junhong Park said, "Overall, my shots were solid. In particular, my tee shots were stable, and I was able to finish well in other areas without any major mistakes." He added, "The start time was delayed due to the fog, but I tried hard not to lose focus. Everything came together well, which allowed me to post a satisfying score," he said with a smile.

Regarding his strategy for the second round, he stated, "I naturally have an aggressive playing style, so I will continue to play aggressively tomorrow whenever necessary." He added, "Just because I'm in the lead, I won't get greedy. I will do my best without overthinking it," expressing his determination.