Ok Tae-hoon, who joined the Korean Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Tour in 2018, secured his first tour victory last year in his eighth season. Oh Seung-taek, who won an individual silver and team bronze at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, achieved his first KPGA regular tour win just last week, also eight years into his professional career. Both born in 1998, they now compete for a title defense and consecutive weekly wins.
The KPGA Gyeongbuk Open (total prize fund of 700 million won) will be held from May 14 to 17 at Golfzon County Seonsan (par 71) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. Ok Tae-hoon reached the peak of his season last year by winning this newly established event. He first won the KPGA Championship in June 2024 for his maiden tour victory, followed by a back-to-back win at the Gunsan CC Open. Then in October, he became the inaugural champion of the Gyeongbuk Open, making him the first player since Ko Gun-taek in 2023 to achieve three wins in a single KPGA Tour season.
Buoyed by this success, Ok swept five awards last year, including the Genesis Prize, Top 10 Finish Award, Money Title, Lowest Scoring Average, and Most Improved Player. This year, as the tournament moves to a different time and venue, Ok aims to defend his title for the first time since his KPGA Tour debut.
“I really like the course at Golfzon County Seonsan,” Ok said. “It’s a course where you need to drive well. The course changes dramatically based on the rough length, so I need to plan my strategy carefully.” Ok set a KPGA Tour record for the lowest 9-hole score (27 on the outward nine) during the final round of the 2024 Golfzon·Toray Open at this course. Despite recent form being somewhat subdued, Ok noted, “My condition usually picks up from mid-May and improves into June, so I’m aiming for a second straight win at this Gyeongbuk Open in May.”
Oh Seung-taek, who claimed his first tour victory at the KPGA Founders Cup last Sunday, said, “My goal this week is naturally to win again. I want to play in the final group, hit great and flashy shots in front of many spectators, and have fun interacting with them.” Reflecting on his feelings after winning, Oh added, “I got home at 1 AM after the round. I checked all the congratulatory messages but was so tired I replied the next morning. Honestly, it still hasn’t sunk in. I think it will hit me when I see my fellow players at the tournament.”
Choi Chan, winner of this year’s Woori Financial Championship and a native of Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang, said, “Since this tournament is near my hometown, I’ll be even more determined to win than at other events. My parents and acquaintances will come to cheer, and I want to live up to their expectations.” Veteran Park Sang-hyun, who joined the KPGA Tour in 2005, is chasing a milestone of surpassing total career earnings of 6 billion won. With 5.9045 billion won in prize money so far, Park would exceed 6 billion by winning the 140 million won top prize.
