2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games team bronze medallist Kim Dong-min (25-NH Nonghyup Bank) won his first event on the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour (1st Division) in his 66th start.
The 5th KB Financial Livechampionship on the 2023 KPGA Korean Tour was held on the North and West Courses (par 72-7270) at Blackstone Icheon Golf Club in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, from 25-28 July with a total prize fund of KRW 700 million.안전놀이터
Kim Dong-min finished with a final total of 8-under-par 280 (70-70-73-67) to win by three strokes over the second-place group, earning him a winner’s cheque for 140 million won, a seeding on the Korean Tour for 2024-2025, and 1,000 Genesis Points.
It took him 2797 days (7 years, 7 months, 28 days) to reach the pinnacle of his career on the Korean Tour after starting his career at the 2015 Descente Korea Munsingware Match Play. If we expand the scope to the Srixon Tour (2nd Division), he won two tournaments in the 2020 season, making this his second victory in KPGA-organised tournaments.
Kim Dong-min is the best performer on the 2023 Korean Tour, ranking first in Genesis Points, second in prize money, second in stroke average, third in average putts, and fourth in average birdies. Below is the full interview after winning the 5th KB Financial Livechampionship.
- It was your first win. How did it feel to win?
I didn’t expect to win after three rounds, and after playing the front nine, I saw that there wasn’t much of a gap between me and the leader. I played my best until the end, and even the nervousness of waiting for the win made me feel happy.
- An eagle on the 18th (par 5) sealed the victory.
I knew I was tied for the lead at the 17th (par-4). I made a bogey and knew I had to at least make a birdie on the last hole to force a playoff or win the tournament. I debated whether to hit my second shot with a 2-iron or 3-wood. I decided to go for an eagle rather than a birdie, so I chose a 3-wood and it landed close to the pin and I was able to make eagle. The final putt was for eagle.
- Why were you so far off the pace?
I lacked accuracy off the tee. Blackstone Icheon GC is a challenging course, so I tried to play it safe. It was a factor in my victory.
- Since the Hyundai Offshore Choi Kyung Joo Invitational in 2022, your results have been good.
I have more confidence in my driver shot. I had a lot of OBs that went right. I was trying to hit it too straight. I worked on my driver by myself to improve my fade, and now I feel more confident off the tee than I did in the first half of last year.
- What are your plans for the future?
I won the title, which was my goal. Now I want to gain confidence and add one more win this year to top the Genesis Points and win the Genesis Grand Prize. I want to top the Genesis Points and participate in the final stage of the Q-School on the U.S. Professional Golf Confederation Tour (Division 2).
- How are you preparing to compete in the Descente Korea Matchplay as the number one on the Genesis Point?
I have participated in the Descente Korea Matchplay once before (in 2015) and was eliminated in the round of 64. This time around, I want to use the momentum of my victory to reach new heights.