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Kim Min-su seized the first-round lead at the 2026 KPGA Founders Cup, the season-opening event on the Korean PGA Tour (total purse: 700 million KRW (525,000 USD)).
Playing the Kyle Phillips Course at Golfzon County Yeongam45 (par 72) in Yeongam, Kim fired nine birdies and three bogeys for a 6-under 66 to top the leaderboard after Round 1.
Since making his KPGA Tour debut in 2012, Kim has yet to claim a tour victory. Leading after Day 1 gives him a strong start toward that milestone.
He began with a birdie at the par-5 10th and added another birdie at the par-5 15th. Consecutive bogeys at 17 (par 3) and 18 (par 4) left him even through the front nine.
On the back nine he rolled in three straight birdies on holes 1–3, then birdied Nos. 5 (par 3) and 6 (par 5). A bogey at the par-4 7th interrupted the run, but he closed with birdies on 8 (par 5) and 9 (par 4) to finish strongly.
“My ball-striking wasn’t great overall, but it was the best putting day I’ve had in years,” Kim said after the round. “The putter was unreal today, and that helped me post a good first-round score. I hope I can keep this feel going.”
Ten players sit a stroke back at 5-under 67, and six of those rounds were bogey-free. Jung Chan-min produced two eagles and a birdie to go 5-under. Jung Seon-il (Canada) carded an eagle and three birdies. Kim Hong-taek, Kim Seung-hyuk, Kim Hak-hyeong and Shin Yong-gu (Canada) each recorded five birdies.
Jung Chan-min, who debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2019 and owns two career wins, sits tied for second, one shot off the lead. He appears well-positioned to add to his win total after his 2023 Golfzon-Doray Open victory.
Jung opened with a birdie at the par-5 6th, then drove the green on the 347-yard par-4 7th and sank an eagle putt from about 4.7 meters. He followed with another approach to the green at the par-5 8th and holed a roughly 5-meter putt for back-to-back eagles.
“Both eagles had a little help from the wind,” Jung said. “Making up five strokes in three holes doesn’t happen often, so I told myself not to get too excited.”
Kim Chan-woo, known as the “Yeongam man” after winning both of his KPGA titles in Yeongam, shot 5-under with seven birdies and two bogeys to join the tie for second and showed strong form on familiar turf.
“Confidence and momentum matter,” Kim said. “My shots felt solid even in the practice round, which gave me confidence.”
An Ji-min made a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th and carded a 4-under 68 to tie for 12th with Lee Dae-han, Shin Sang-hoon and others.
Lee Sang-yeop, last month’s DB Insurance Promi Open winner and the season’s opening champion, shot 2-under 70 to tie for 30th. Woori Financial Championship winner Choi Chan posted a 1-under 71 and is tied for 41st with Ok Tae-hoon, last year’s Genesis Award winner.
Song Min-hyeok, who earned his first KPGA Tour victory in a playoff at last week’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open, shot even-par 72 and is tied for 62nd.
Golf reporter Oh Hak-yeol kungkung5@viva100.com
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