Kim Bio (33) will defend the Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour SK Telecom Open title. The long hit matchup between Bio Kim, who is the leader in driver average distance this season, and Chan-min Jung (24), the “Korean Yon-Ram,” who ranked first in this category last season, is also attracting attention.
Bio Kim will participate in the SK Telecom Open held at Pinx Golf Club (par 71) in Seogwipo, Jeju for four days from the 18th. Kim Bio, who stood at the top of this tournament in 2012 and won the prize money, also won the SK Telecom Open last year. Kim Bio, who has yet to report a win on his Korean Tour this season, is determined to make his first title defense along with his first win of the season. If Bio Kim, who has 8 victories on the Korean Tour, succeeds in defending his title, he will tie the record for the most wins in the SK Telecom Open. The player who won the most in the 25 SK Telecom Opens held so far is Choi Gyeong-ju (53), who won the championship three times (2003, 2005, 2008).
Bio Kim goes out with Jung Chan-min in the first and second rounds. Jeong Chan-min, who won his first win at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, which ended on the 7th, uses long-distance driver shots as his main weapon. Last year, the average driver distance was 317 yards (about 290 m), ranking first overall. Jung Chan-min, who attended the official photo call held on the 17th prior to the opening of the SK Telecom Open, said, “Distance is not everything in golf. In this competition, instead of greedy for distance, I will show a sophisticated shot,” he said. “I want to play my own game without worrying about playing with prominent seniors.”
Bio Kim is also the ‘King of Long Hits’ as much as Jung Chan-min. This season, Kim Bio’s average driving distance is longer than Jeong Chan-min’s. As of the 17th, Kim Bio has an average drive distance of 337 yards (approximately 308 m), ranking first in this category. He is about 6m longer than Jeong Chan-min, who is recording 330 yards (about 302m).안전놀이터
Bio Kim said, “Although I hit longer driver shots than Chan-Min Jung this year, Chan-Min Jung is a wall that cannot be overcome when it comes to average driving distance. I try not to pay attention to Jung Chan-min’s flight distance in this tournament,” he said.
Choi Gyeong-ju, who won the most in this competition, is also challenging for a fourth championship in her career. Choi Kyung-ju entered this event last year and tied for 7th with a final total of 10 under par 274 strokes. Park Sang-hyun (40), the champion of the 2009 tournament, and former winners Lee Sang-hee (31) and Ham Ham-woo (29) were also on the list.