One stroke ahead of co-second-place Ok Tae-hoon; 'I'm not thinking about winning — just letting go of impatience'
Kim Min-jun took sole first place on the opening day of the KPGA Championship, which carries a purse of 1.6 billion won (approximately $1,060,000).
Playing Thursday at A-One Country Club's South-West course (par 71) in Yangsan, Gyeonggi Province, Kim carded eight birdies against one bogey for a 7-under-par 64, setting himself up for his first KPGA Tour victory.
Kim made his KPGA Tour debut in 2011, and his best result to date is a runner-up finish at the 2022 Descente Korea Munsingwear Match Play.
After picking up two strokes on the front nine, Kim surged to the top of the leaderboard on the back nine with four consecutive birdies from the 11th hole (par 4) through the 14th hole (par 4).
"Last year I played well early on but often fell apart at the end," Kim said. "This year I'm trying not to think about winning and to let go of any impatience."
Lee Tae-hee, a four-time winner on tour, sits one stroke back in a tie for second after posting seven birdies and one bogey for a 6-under 64. Lee mounted a strong charge in the final round of the GS Caltex MK Open in May but was limited to a tie for third.
"Today I was so focused on keeping the ball in the fairway that my swing felt a bit off," Lee said. "From tomorrow I'll concentrate on correcting the mistakes I made today."
Song Min-hyeok, winner of the MK Open, shot a 5-under 66 to sit in a tie for fifth, two strokes off the lead — the best result among this season's winners so far, raising expectations he could claim a second title this season.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
