Jang Yu-bin enters the final round with a five-point lead. [Photo=KPGA]
Jang Yu-bin enters the final round with a five-point lead. [Photo=KPGA]

Jang Yu-bin, returning from LIV Golf, has taken the lead heading into the final round of the KPGA Classic with Imbita on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, which carries a purse of 700 million won (approximately $458,000).

Playing Saturday at Cypress Golf & Resort's North-West Course (par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Jang carded seven birdies and two bogeys under the modified Stableford format to earn 12 points, bringing his cumulative total to 39 — five clear of joint runners-up Song Min-hyeok and Park Eun-shin. Song added 10 points and Park added 8 to each reach 34 points in a share of second place.

Under the modified Stableford system, a par scores zero points, a birdie two, an eagle five and an albatross eight, while a bogey costs one point and a double bogey or worse costs three. The format rewards aggressive play.

The result puts Jang within reach of his first victory in one year and eight months, since the Baeksong Holdings Asiad CC Busan Open in October 2024.

After his round, Jang said the modified Stableford format keeps the outcome uncertain until the very end. "If someone makes an eagle or a string of birdies, the gap can suddenly shrink," he said. "Being the leader, in a sense I'm the one being chased. I might feel rushed and nervous, but I still want to play as calmly as possible on Sunday. It's been a long time since a chance like this has come along, and I don't want to let it slip away."

Kim Min-gyu, who entered the tournament fresh off LIV Golf Andalucia last week, fired eight birdies and one bogey Saturday for 15 points, lifting his cumulative total to 29 points and vaulting from a share of 33rd place to sixth.

"In the final round I want to attack the pins more aggressively and create more birdie opportunities," Kim said. "Rather than worrying about what the other players are doing, I think if I focus on my own game and play my best, there will be plenty of chances. If possible, I'd love to make an eagle too."


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