KPGA Golf Zone-Doray Open wins in overtime

Chan Min Chung's driver swing.

Jang Tae-wang made a triumphant return.

The Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour's longest hitter, Chung Chan-min, won the KPGA Korean Tour Golf Zone-Doray Open (total prize money: 700 million won) in a playoff with Kang Kyung-nam on the final day at Seonsan Country Club (Par 72) in Golf Zone County, Gumi City, North Gyeongsang Province, on Friday.

Chung, who shot a 7-under 65 on the day, was six strokes behind Kang, who finished with a final four-round total of 21-under 267, forcing a playoff.

In the first overtime, played on the 18th hole (par-5), Chung had to get his ball on the green in three after his tee shot left the left side of the fairway, but was saved by Kang's missed birdie putt by two meters.

In the second overtime, Chung capitalized on his long-hitting advantage.

After hitting his tee shot accurately, Chung hit an iron to the green with 201 meters to go for an easy birdie.

Kang, who hit his second shot with 224 meters to go, had to go through a bunker to get to the green in three and failed to make birdie.

It was the second win in six months for Chung, who won his first career title at the GS Caltex Mae Kyung Open in May.

He is only the second player on the KPGA Korean Tour to win at least two events this season, following three victories.

The victory marks a spectacular return to form for Chung, who won the GS Caltex Mae Kyung Open in May and tied for seventh at the Woori Financial Championship, after a shoulder injury sidelined him for 13 tournaments and no top-10 finishes.

The Gumi Osang High School product from Gumi, Gyeongbuk, was especially pleased to win on a course he played frequently as a junior.

"I want to win the final tournament of the season," she said, "and I plan to compete in the LIV Golf Selection in December."

Entering the final round in a tie for fifth place, three strokes behind Kim, Chung had one eagle and six birdies by the 11th hole to get into contention for the title.

After picking up an eagle on the sixth (par-5) with her second shot, dropping her ball 3 meters to the side of the hole, Chung's morale was boosted on the eighth (par-3) when her lob shot from 20 meters outside the green found the hole for birdie.

He birdied his next four holes from the eighth to reach 20 under par and was one stroke behind Kang Kyung-nam, who made a shot eagle at the 12th (par-4), but birdied the 18th (par-5) to move into a share of the lead.

Kang failed to hold his third shot at the 18th (par-5) and missed a 5-meter birdie putt, giving Chung a chance.

Kang, who was looking for his 12th career victory in two years and two months after winning the 2021 Bizplay Electronics Newspaper Open, had to settle for runner-up honors after failing to make a single birdie in three 18-hole playoffs, including the fourth round and two extra holes.

It was Kang's second runner-up finish of the year after the Kolon Korea Open in June.

Third-round leader Kim Han-byul was just two strokes off the pace and finished tied for third (19-under 269).

Defending champion Park Eun-shin stayed in contention after shooting a 3-under 69 to finish tied for fifth (17-under 271).

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