Kim Min-jun leads 69th KPGA Championship by one stroke after opening round

Kim Min-jun has taken sole possession of the lead at the 69th KPGA Championship, which carries a purse of 1.6 billion won (approximately $1,060,000).

Kim fired eight birdies against one bogey for a 7-under-par 64 on Thursday at A-One Country Club's South-West Course (par 71) in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, putting him one stroke ahead of the trio tied for second — Lee Tae-hee, Kim Min-su and Kim Seung-min.

Kim picked up two strokes on the front nine with consecutive birdies on holes 8 and 9, then birdied four straight holes from 11 through 14 on the back nine before adding another at hole 16.

Kim debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2011 after serving in the national reserve forces and has yet to win a title. His best finish remains a runner-up at the 2022 Descente Korea Munsingwear Match Play. After his round Thursday, he said he was pleased with how the day unfolded. "Overall I played smoothly today — my ball-striking was good, and my putting was particularly sharp," he said. "Of the past three or four years, this year my feel for both shots and putting has been the best. I changed my swing coach two years ago and I'm gradually settling in."

Kim also touched on the personal side of his improved mindset. "As I've gotten older and started a family, I try not to get angry and play as calmly as possible," he said. "We've been married three years, and our first daughter is due in September. Her nickname is Geumbok — we hope she'll have both gold and fortune."

Lee Tae-hee carded seven birdies and one bogey for a 6-under 65 to share second place. "The round went better than I expected," Lee said. "For the remaining rounds, I'll focus on correcting the mistakes I made today."

Song Min-hyeok, who claimed his first KPGA title at the GS Caltex MK Open, shot a 5-under 66 to join Kang Gyeong-nam, Choi Min-cheol, Kwon Seong-yeol and Kim Chan-woo in a tie for fifth.

Defending champion Ok Tae-hoon opened with a 2-under 69 to sit in a tie for 33rd alongside Kim Hyeong-seong, Kim Kyung-tae, Jo Min-gyu, Heo In-hoe, Jang Yu-bin and Lee Chang-woo.

Yang Ji-ho, winner of the Kolon Korea Open, managed only an even-par 71 with two birdies and a double bogey, leaving him tied for 85th. He will need a low score in the second round to make the cut.