"Hulk" Jeong Chan-min recorded eagles on two consecutive holes in the first round of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour Founders Cup (total prize money 700 million won, or $490,000) held Friday at the Kyle Phillips Course (par 72) of Golfzon County Yeongam 45 in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province.
Jeong's first eagle of the day came on the par-4 seventh hole. He sent his tee shot 332 yards to reach the green in one. After placing the ball about five yards from the hole, Jeong sank the eagle putt to shave two strokes at once. He added another eagle on the very next hole, the par-5 eighth. On the 628-yard hole, Jeong drove his tee shot 330 yards and followed with a 299-yard second shot to comfortably reach the green in two. He then drained another eagle putt from roughly five yards.
Jeong had birdied the par-4 sixth hole just before that, cutting five strokes across holes six through eight. With two eagles and a birdie on the day, he carded a 5-under 67. "I got some help from the tailwind on holes seven and eight," Jeong said after the round. "I was so excited to drop five strokes in three holes, but I calmed myself down and played the remaining holes steadily without losing any strokes." Jeong, who claimed the long-drive title in 2022, has not won since capturing two titles in 2023 at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the Golfzon Dongrae Open.
Kim Min-soo shot a 6-under 66 with nine birdies and three bogeys to take the solo lead. With many chasers close behind, however, he cannot rest easy. Tied for second, one stroke back, are Jeong Chan-min, Kim Hong-taek, defending champion Moon Do-yeob and Kim Chan-woo.
Heo In-hoe, who missed out on a playoff at last week's GS Caltex Maekyung Open following a ruling reversal, shot a 1-under 71.
