Three-time DP World Tour winner rallies with 4-under 68 to win by three; leads Rookie of the Year standings
Kim Yeon-seop falls short of maiden title, finishes tied third
Wang Jeong-hoon, a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, claimed his first KPGA Tour title Sunday at the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational.
Wang carded a bogey-free 4-under-par 68 in the final round at Ferrum Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The tournament carried a purse of 1.25 billion won ($919,000).
He finished at 10-under 278, beating Kim Hong-taek by three strokes. Kim finished at 7-under 281. The winner's share came to 250 million won. Lee Sang-hee and Kim Yeon-seop tied for third at 6-under 282.
It was Wang's first KPGA Tour victory. He won his first professional title at the 2016 DP World Tour Hassan II Trophy, then added the Mauritius Open in the same season to claim two wins and the Rookie of the Year award. He secured his third career title at the Qatar Masters the following January.
After completing his mandatory military service, Wang competed on both the international circuit and the KPGA Tour. This season, he had recorded four top-10 finishes in nine KPGA Tour starts before this event and lifted his first KPGA trophy in his 10th appearance.
Starting the final round in third place, Wang built early momentum by sinking a 3.9-meter birdie putt on the second hole (par 4) and adding another birdie on the third (par 3). When overnight leader Kim Yeon-seop made bogey on the fourth hole (par 4), Wang moved into sole possession of the lead.
Kim pulled back into a share of the lead with a birdie on the seventh hole (par 4), but the 12th hole (par 5) proved decisive. Wang stuck his approach to within 1.8 meters and converted the birdie, while Kim missed a 1.4-meter par putt for bogey — a two-shot swing in a single hole.
Wang did not waver from there. He parred his way home as Kim dropped another shot with a bogey on the 15th hole (par 4), stretching the gap to three strokes. Wang parred the remaining holes to seal the victory.
Kim Hong-taek birdied the 18th hole (par 5) to finish alone in second place. Kim Yeon-seop, who joined the KPGA Tour in 2015, had been chasing his first career win but dropped another shot on the 18th to finish tied third with Lee Sang-hee.
The victory also strengthened Wang's position in the Rookie of the Year race. He leads the standings with 2,294.67 points, sits fifth on the Genesis Points list with 3,546.20 points, and ranks sixth in season earnings at 487.23 million won.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
