Moon Donghyun Breaks Through: Youngest-Ever Winner with 'Spectacular Chip-In Birdie'

First KPGA Championship Title by One Stroke at 69th Edition
Lifts His First Trophy at 20 Years, 2 Months, and 2 Days
Kim Chanwoo Second, Um Jaewoong Third, Wang Junghoon Fifth

Second-year professional Moon Donghyun clinched his first championship trophy, highlighted by a 30-yard chip-in birdie.

On June 7, at A-One Country Club’s South-West Course (par 71, 7,205 yards) in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Moon posted four birdies and two bogeys during the final round of the 69th KPGA Championship on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, which had a total prize purse of 1.6 billion won. With a final score of 9-under-par 275, Moon edged out Kim Chanwoo, who finished at 8-under-par 276, by one stroke. Along with his victory, Moon earned a winner’s prize of 320 million won, a KPGA Tour exemption through 2031, and 1,300 Genesis Grand Prize points.

Moon Donghyun is teeing off at the 2nd hole during the final round 4 of the KPGA Championship. Photo by KPGA

Born in 2006, Moon became the youngest champion in KPGA Championship history at 20 years, 2 months, and 2 days old. The previous record was set by Lee Sanghee, who won the 2012 tournament at 20 years, 4 months, and 13 days old.

The decisive moment came at the 16th hole (par 4). After sending his tee shot into the fairway bunker, Moon’s second shot landed in the rough short of the green. Needing to save par, he holed out his approach shot from 30 yards for a crucial birdie. Taking the outright lead, Moon parred the final two holes to secure the top position.

Um Jaewoong and Lee Jaejin shared third place at 7-under-par 277, while Wang Junghoon and Kim Junhyung tied for fifth at 6-under-par 278. Lee Taehui, Choi Jinho, Song Minhyeok, Cho Wooyoung, and Shin Sanghoon were among those tied for seventh at 5-under-par 279. Lee Sanghee finished tied for 14th at 4-under-par 280, while Choi Seungbin, Lee Sumin, and Heo Inhoe shared 16th at 3-under-par 281.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.