Choi Chan Celebrates Second Victory of the Season... Final Winner of the "31-Hole Race"

Choi Secures One-Stroke Victory at KPGA Dong-A Membership Group Open
Becomes Second Multiple Winner of the Season After Jang Yoobin
National Team’s Yoo Minhyuk Takes Runner-Up; Jung Jaehoon Shares Third Place

Choi Chan has claimed victory in the "31-Hole Race."

On August 23, at Solago Country Club (par 72) in Taean, Chungnam, he completed the final 13 holes of the third round and the fourth round of the KPGA Tour Dong-A Membership Group Open (total prize money of 700 million won), cutting five strokes to win the tournament with a total score of 20-under-par 268. Having secured his first win after his regular tour debut at the Woori Financial Championship in April, Choi has now collected another trophy just four months later. The winner’s prize amounts to 140 million won.

During the 13 holes of the third round, which he was unable to finish the day before, Choi recorded three birdies and one bogey. Beginning the final round as the leader with a two-shot margin, he carded four birdies and one bogey to finish with a 3-under-par 69. After collecting three birdies in the first 12 holes, he dropped a shot on the 13th hole, but immediately made up for it with a birdie on the 14th hole (both par 4). He parred the remaining four holes to secure a one-stroke victory. With this win, he joins the ranks of multi-winners this season, alongside Jang Yoobin (two wins).

Choi Chan is teeing off on the 2nd hole of the 4th round at the Dong-A Membership Group Open. Photo by KPGA

Choi joined KPGA in 2015 and debuted on the Korean Tour in 2022. After enduring a lengthy period without significant results, he has now clinched two titles this year alone. He is currently ranked third on the money list (511,650,162 won) and second in the Genesis Points standings (3,116.67 points).

Had Choi avoided the bogey on the 13th hole, he could have achieved a "bogey-free win over 72 holes." No player has accomplished this in the KPGA Tour since Cho Cheolsang’s performance at the 1990 Phantom Open, marking a 36-year absence of the feat.

In a post-win interview, Choi said, "I don't even know what to say right now. I’m so happy to have won," adding, "My last goal for the second half of the year is to finish within the top five of the Genesis Points standings to receive an exemption for the Korn Ferry (second division) Tour qualifying round in the U.S. PGA."

National team member Minhyuk Yoo is teeing off at the 3rd hole of the 4th round of the Dong-A Membership Group Open. Photo by KPGA

Amateur national representative Yoo Minhyuk, born in 2008, charged ahead with a 4-under-par 68 in the fourth round to finish runner-up (19-under-par 267 strokes). Jung Jaehoon, who tops both the season’s money and overall points standings on the KPGA second division David Golf Tour, and Park Junghoon, who debuted on the KPGA Tour this year, shared third place (18-under-par 270 strokes).

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