'The 40th Shinhan Donghae Open' Competition for the title of the strongest player in Asia with 138 players from 12 countries in the tee-off on the 5th
Sep 02, 2024
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The Shinhan Donghae Open was created in 1981 by Korean golfers in Japan to develop Korean golf, foster international players, and exchange sports between Korea and Japan, and is the longest-running Korean representative golf tournament among single-sponsor professional golf tournaments in Korea.
This year, 138 strong players from 12 countries from the KPGA Tour, the Asian Tour, and the JGTO Japan Professional Golf Tour will gather to compete for the title of the strongest player in Asia.
First of all, the competition between the three tours draws attention. In the last 39th tournament, which cost 1.4 billion won, the same as this year, the KPGA Tour shared about 700 million won, half of the total prize money, and JGTO and Asian Tour players shared about half of the remaining prize money. The KPGA Tour even secured the championship trophy with the dramatic turnaround of Go Won-taek (24, Daebo Construction). Another point to watch is whether Thailand's Pachara Khongwatmai (25) who was the runner-up last year, will avenge his participation on behalf of the Asian Tour. The JGTO's flagship player is Ryo Ishikawa (32), who tied for 11th in the final round of last year's competition by reducing seven shots. Kazuki Higa (29), the winner of the 38th Shinhan Donghae Open in 2022, is also a dark horse to watch among Japanese players.
In particular, the competition between Jang Yoo-bin (22, Shinhan Financial Group) and Kim Min-kyu (23, CJ), who are currently in a tight race for the KPGA Tour Genesis points and the prize money king, is expected to emerge as the biggest attraction.
Kim Min-kyu, a year older than Jang Yoo-bin, is the winner of the Kolon Korean Open in 2022 and this year, and has already exceeded 800 million won in prize money as he still has eight competitions left. If he wins the Shinhan Donghae Open, he can seal the competition for Genesis. Chang Yu-bin, who is also a sponsor of the host Shinhan Financial Group, made his name early when he joined forces with Lim Sung-jae, Kim Si-woo and amateur national team member Cho Woo-young to win the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. Jang Yoo-bin, who has recorded the runner-up three times despite having enough power at the beginning of this season, finally won the Gunsan CC Open in July and achieved his first professional win. It is the second consecutive victory in the tournament following last year's victory as an amateur.
Two athletes, mostly active in overseas tours, were also named. Kim Sung-hyun (25, Shinhan Financial Group) and Song Young-han (33, Shinhan Financial Group), whose PGA Tour and JGTO are the main stages, respectively, are expected to have different resolutions from other players as they are hosted by their sponsor, Shinhan Financial Group.
Meanwhile, one more competition with the name 'Shinhan East Sea' was added this year. Shinhan Financial Group has joined forces with the advisory committee for the Shinhan Donghae Open Korean American Open to foster amateur players and established the Shinhan Donghae Men's Amateur Championship organized by the Korea Golf Association. Last month, the first tournament held at Aurora Golf & Resort (par 70) in Wonju, Gangwon-do, was held with a stroke play of 72 holes in the fourth round, with 112 prominent amateur players including the national team and the national standing army participating. The main character, who was named the first winner of the new competition with a total of 15-under 265 in the fourth round, was Yoo Min-hyuk (Seogang High School 1) who was given various benefits such as national selection points, as well as a ticket to the Shinhan Donghae Open this year.
Shinhan Donghae Open is selling tickets through online retailer Smartics. It is 20,000 won per day and a 50% discount is provided to Shinhan Card customers. Citizens living in Incheon can get a 50% discount, and those under the age of 18 can enter for free.
Reporter Kim So-hyung compact@sportschosun.com
compact@sportschosun.com
