Park Sang-hyun (40) is blooming in golf life as a leading star representing the Korean Tour despite his unfathomable age. Despite the busy schedule of going back and forth between Korea and Japan tours, he is highly popular for his unique play. Park Sang-hyun’s power to defy his age comes from a veteran’s stature and clever play.
Park Sang-hyun is clearly showing his presence at the DP World Tour Korea Championship (total prize money of 2 million dollars), which was revived in Korea after 10 years. This is because in this tournament held at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea (par 72/7454 yards) in Songdo, Incheon, which has a reputation for being a formidable course, they are proudly leading the co-leader by beating European powerhouses.
In the second day of the tournament held on the 28th, Park Sang-hyun reduced 3 more strokes with 4 birdies and 1 bogey, and tied for the lead with Yannick Paul (Germany) with a median total of 8 under par 136 strokes. Compared to Western players, the long hitting power is inferior, and the length of the battlefield is long and the effect of the sea breeze is inevitable. However, with his high concentration, he captured 10 birdies in two days, maintaining the pride of Korean men’s golf.
The hole that showed Park Sang-hyun’s strength was the last hole 18 (par 5). I tried a 2-on from the semi-rough left of the fairway, but the ball fell into a divot. Coincidentally, in this tournament, the preferred lie is applied, so Park Sang-hyun wiped the ball and put it next to the divot to hit the third shot. Then he made a formidable birdie putt from 8m. It was a moment in which a high level of concentration and cleverness in making the most of the rules stood out.
After the game, Park Sang-hyun said, “It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t reduce the number of strokes much in the second half, but I scored in the 60s for two days in a row and I’m satisfied with the birdie on the last hole.” That was the driving force,” he said. He then emphasized, “I want to show that Korean Tour players can also win the DP World Tour in this tournament.”
Yannick Paul, ranked 104th in the world, reduced 4 strokes with 5 birdies and 1 bogey to rise to the joint lead. After the match, Paul said, “The pin positions for all the holes today were really difficult. A lot of things can happen, so I will try to hit a good shot.”
Antoine Rosner (France), who took the lead with a 9-under par on the first day, was sluggish with a 2-over-par 74, including a triple bogey on the 9th hole, and was pushed back to a tie for third place by a stroke with a median total of 7-under-par 137.
Ok Tae-hoon (24), who won the Asian Tour International Series Korea held in Jeju Island in August last year, reduced 4 strokes with 7 birdies and 3 bogeys to record a median total of 6 under par 138 strokes, along with Shin Yong-gu (31) and Pablo Larazabal (Italy). made the 6th group.
Kang Gyeong-nam (40), also known as the ‘Competent’, also added 4 under par with 6 birdies and 2 bogeys, resulting in a median total of 5 under par, 139 strokes, tied for 11 with Kim Bio (33), Byeon Jin-jae (34), Hwang Jung-gon (31), and Yang Ji-ho (34). ran up
Bae Sang-moon (37), who played as an invited player, lost 1 stroke with 3 birdies and 4 bogeys, but managed to pass the cut comfortably, finishing in a tie for 32nd with a median total of 2 under par and 142 strokes. Wang Jeong-hoon, who won three European matches, also lost one stroke, but advanced to the final round with a tie for 47th place with an interim total of 1 under par and 143 strokes.
Bae Sang-moon said, “There is a forecast for rain on Saturday, when the third round will be held. I think this is rather good news for mid-ranking players. I want to prepare for shots in the midst of wind and rain and do well until the moving day and the final round. The characteristics of this course are better than anyone else’s. I think I know it well, so I will do my best.”
If you win this tournament, you will be given two-year seeds for the Korean Tour and DP World Tour. In addition, 1,000 Genesis points and 460 Race to Dubai ranking points are given respectively. 크크크벳