Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

GS CA LT EX MA EK Y UNG OPEN N AM S EO U L CO U N T RY C L U B , S EO U L | MAY 4 - 6 | P R I Z E MON E Y K RW 1 , 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ( A P P ROX . U S $ 1 . 1 M I L L I ON ) SUPERHERO PERFORMANCE IN SEOUL “KOREAN HULK” JUNG POWERS TO SHOCK VICTORY Chanmin Jung (LEFT AND FAR RIGHT) won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open with power and precision. T he Asian Tour always loves a tale of the unexpected – especially when it involves a potential star of the future. That was certainly the case when the Tour made its first trip of the season to Korea, when strapping Korean golfer Chanmin Jung completed a shock wire-to- wire victory. He shot a final round five-under-par 66 for a tournament total of 16 under par and a commanding six-shot victory at Namseoul Country Club, in Seoul. Korea’s Minhyuk Song, an amateur, and Junghwan Lee tied for second following rounds of 64 and 70 respectively, in an event reduced to 54 holes after Saturday’s third round was cancelled because of poor weather and a waterlogged course. Their compatriots Jaekyeong Lee (66) and Eunshin Park (67) tied for fourth, one shot back, while defending champion Bio Kim, also from Korea, finished in a tie for sixth, an additional stroke behind, following a 70. Until that week, Jung was best known as one of the biggest hitters in Korea – he topped the driving distance stats on the Korean PGA Tour in 2022 – and had only finished in the top-10 twice in domestic events since turning professional three years earlier. All that changed when the player nicknamed the “Korean Hulk”, due his big frame and big-hitting game, recorded and an inspired and unexpected victory in front of the huge crowds that are always a feature of the tournament. He led after the opening day with a 63 and had a two-shot advantage after his second round 68. With Saturday’s play washed out that was the lead he started with on Sunday for the third and final round. A brilliant front nine of five-under-par 31, with an eagle – the result of holing his bunker shot on the par-five fourth – and three birdies, put him six ahead at the turn, before he stylishly closed out with nine straight pars on the second half. “I won a big tournament wire to wire, so I feel good,” said the 23-year-old, who won US$222,222. 72