2024-07-15 13:24:18
Jang Yu-bin wins KPGA Gunsan CC Open
Participated in 11 competitions this year, finished runner-up 3 times
Lost in a comeback despite being 5 strokes ahead in the previous match
“I think it will be a great help in my golf life.”
Jang Yu-bin (22) successfully defended his title at the Gunsan CC Open on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, which he won as an amateur last year, and announced his first win since his professional debut.
Jang Yu-bin recorded 1 under par 71 with 1 eagle, 4 birdies, 3 bogeys, and 1 double bogey in the final 4th round of the Gunsan CC Open held at the Jeonbuk Gunsan Country Club (par 72) on the 14th. With a final total of 16 under par 272, Jang Yu-bin beat 2nd place Jeong Han-mil by 2 strokes to become the first player to win back-to-back titles in this tournament. This is her first win in 16 tournaments since her professional debut in October last year. The prize money is 195.85 million won. Lee Su-min (2013, 2015) and Joo Heung-cheol (2014, 2016) each won the Gunsan CC Open twice, but Jang Yu-bin is the first to win back-to-back titles. With this win, Jang Yu-bin, who has firmly secured the top spot in this season’s target points (5177.86 points) and stroke average (69.325), has also risen to second place in the prize money rankings (664.62 million won). Kim Min-gyu is in first place in the prize money rankings with 802.44 million won.
Jang Yu-bin said, “The eagle on the 9th hole was the driving force behind my victory.” Jang Yu-bin started the final round as the sole leader, 3 strokes ahead of the 2nd group. However, she lost 3 strokes by the 7th hole (par 4) and widened the gap to 3 strokes with Kim Min-kyu, who had risen to the lead. Jang Yu-bin turned the tide with an eagle on the 9th hole (par 5). She made an eagle by placing the ball in the rough 210m from the hole and 40cm from the hole with her second shot. Jang Yu-bin said, “My scores from the 1st to the 5th holes were the same as last year’s tournament, so I wondered how I could have been so perfect. I played with the mindset that ‘I won last year in a more difficult situation, so there’s nothing I can’t do this year.’”
Jang Yu-bin, the team gold medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, said, “I am happy to have won the tournament I won as an amateur last year and won it back-to-back. The most meaningful thing is to have overcome the upset loss in the previous tournament. I had been struggling mentally because I couldn’t get to the championship, but I feel like I’ve shaken it off. I think this win will be a great help to me in the future.” Jang Yu-bin started the final round of the Bizplay Wonder Club Open tournament, which ended two weeks ago on the 30th of last month, with a five-stroke lead over second place, but gave up a comeback win to Heo In-hoe in an extended match.
This year, Jang Yu-bin has shown consistent performance by making it to the top 10 seven times, including three second-place finishes, out of the 11 competitions she has participated in before this tournament, but has not been able to lift the winner’s trophy. Jang Yu-bin is also in first place in the ‘top 10 finish’ category with eight this season. Jang Yu-bin said, “When I was an amateur, my putting was my weakness, but since I came to the pro tour, my putting has improved, and I have gained confidence, and I think that is why I am performing well.”
The KPGA Tour will be on hiatus until the end of August. Jang Yu-bin said, “I will take a break for now and then compete in Asian Tour events that I am eligible to participate in,” and “I will also gradually prepare for the US PGA Tour Q School.”
Reporter Kim Jeong-hun [email protected]
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2024-07-15 13:24:18