Jang Yu-bin leads Korean charge against Japanese rivals at Shinhan Donghae Open

Jang Yu-bin competes for the title against top Japanese players. [Photo=KPGA]

Jang Yu-bin will battle Japan's top players for the title at the 42nd Shinhan Donghae Open, which carries a purse of 1.5 billion won ($1.12 million).

Jang carded a 4-under-par 68 on Saturday at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Songdo, Incheon (par 72, 7,502 yards), making five birdies against one bogey. Having cut his score by four strokes in each of the three rounds, he sits at 12-under 204 in a tie for second with Japan's Ohori Yuji.

Japan's Sunagawa Kosuke fired the day's best round — a 7-under 65 — to move to 13-under 203 and take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round.

"I've been practicing all along to experience and enjoy competing for a win, so tomorrow I want to really enjoy it," Sunagawa said. "I'm really looking forward to it. My game is in good shape right now, and I want to test how far I can go while competing for the title. I'll do my best to win."

Kozuma Jinichiro of Japan, who was dropped from LIV Golf this season, moved into sole fourth place at 10-under 206 after a bogey-free round of seven birdies.

Sunagawa Kosuke holds a one-stroke lead heading into the final round. [Photo=KPGA]

Co-sanctioned by the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the tournament is a matter of national pride for both tours. South Korea is particularly eager to reclaim the title after Japan's Higa Kazuki took the trophy last year.

Jang is leading that charge. Fellow big-hitter Jeong Chan-min also kept Korean hopes alive with a 5-under round Saturday, moving to 9-under 207 in a tie for fifth alongside Ok Tae-hoon, Lee Sang-hee and Lee Tae-hoon of Canada. The final round is shaping up as a fierce Korea-Japan showdown.

The Japanese contenders Jang must overcome have been in sharp form this season. Leader Sunagawa has emerged as a dark horse on the JGTO circuit this year, posting a tie for third at the KBC Augusta — where Lee Sang-hee won — along with a tie for fifth at the Maezawa Cup and a tie for sixth at the Kansai Open, stringing together a run of top-10 finishes.

Co-leader Ohori is also a formidable presence known for his consistency. He shared the runner-up spot at the Kansai Open this season and has consistently placed near the top of the leaderboard, including a tie for 11th at the Doken Homemate Cup and a tie for 11th at the Mizuno Open.

Kozuma, in sole fourth, is the most experienced of the Japanese players in contention. A three-time JGTO winner who also competed on the LIV Golf circuit, he has posted a tie for third at KBC Augusta, a tie for fifth at the Maezawa Cup and a tie for 12th at the Chunichi Crowns this season. His short game ranks among the tour's best — second in average putts (1.69) and first in sand save rate (71.88 percent).

Jang's weapons are his power off the tee and aggressive play. After sweeping the KPGA's top honors in the 2024 season — including player of the year and money title — he has already won twice this season, taking the KPGA Classic and the Hana Bank Invitational in June, and leads both the Genesis Points standings (3,642.7 points) and the money list at 589.81 million won.

A victory here would make him the first player to reach three wins this season and cement his grip on the individual title race. It would also earn him a two-year JGTO card. "The Japanese players have a delicate touch around the greens," Jang said. "But I think I have a clear edge in the long game. I also like pitch shots inside 100 meters, so I'm confident I won't be outplayed there."

Moon Do-yeop, who had led after Saturday's round, dropped two strokes to fall to 8-under 208, joining Hwang Jung-gon, Park Eun-shin, Kim Jae-ho and Japan's Shimoke Suguru in a tie for 11th.

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