Translation result.
Park Sang-hyun, Choi Min-cheol and Moon Dong-hyun shared the first-round lead at the 2026 KPGA Gyeongbuk Open (total purse: 700 million KRW (approximately 525,000 USD)).
On May 14 at Golfzon County Seonsan (par 71) in Gumi, Park fired a 7-under 64, carding nine birdies and two bogeys in the opening round.
Second-year tour pro Moon went bogey-free with seven birdies, while Choi made eight birdies against one bogey—both posted 7-under 64s to join Park atop the leaderboard.
Park, who debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2005, now owns 14 career tour wins and has earned 5,904,000,000 KRW (approximately 4,428,000 USD) in career prize money, putting him within sight of becoming the first player on the tour to eclipse 6 billion KRW (approximately 4,500,000 USD) in career earnings.
Park battled a lingering back issue earlier this season. He withdrew from the season opener, the DB Insurance Promy Open, in April and skipped the following Woori Financial Championship. He then tied for 31st at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
After sitting out last week’s KPGA Founders Cup, Park’s opening-round performance gives him a promising start in his bid for a first win this season.
“This is the first tournament I’ve been able to compete in while feeling close to normal this year,” Park said. “I still need to be cautious, but I’m focused on managing my body and finishing the season strong.”
Moon, who made his KPGA debut last year, notched his second share of the lead this season. He shared the lead through three rounds at April’s Woori Financial Championship but couldn’t improve on the final day and finished tied for fourth.
His bogey-free round underlined steady ball-striking and reliable putting. Though he missed the cut at last week’s Founders Cup, Moon’s flawless first day sets him up well as he chases his maiden tour victory.
Choi Min-cheol, the 2018 Kolon Korea Open champion, has played four events this season without a top-10 finish.
Um Jae-woong carded a bogey-free 5-under 66 with five birdies to tie for fourth alongside Jang Hee-min, Lee Su-min, Choi Seung-bin, Wang Jeong-hun and Lee Dong-min.
Season-opener winner Lee Sang-yeop and last week’s first-time winner Oh Seung-taek each shot 4-under 67 and sit three strokes back in a tie for 10th. GS Caltex Maekyung Open champion Song Min-hyuk is tied for 33rd at 1-under 70, while Woori Financial Championship winner Choi Chan is tied for 124th at 5-over 76.
Oh Hak-yeol, golf writer kungkung5@viva100.com
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