Kim Joon-hyung surged into a surprise lead on the third day of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Championship, signaling a strong chance at his first regular tour victory.
Kim carded a 4-under-par 67 in the third round held Friday at A-One Country Club's South-West Course (par 71) in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, combining five birdies with one bogey. With a midway total of 8-under-par 205, Kim climbed a remarkable 22 spots from the previous day to take sole possession of first place.
Kim, whose best individual finish on the KPGA Tour had been a tie for 10th, showcased sharp shotmaking by sweeping up four birdies on the front nine alone. On the back nine, he made his first bogey at the 10th hole (par 4), reaching the green on his third shot before missing a 6-meter par putt. But he remained unshaken and continued his streak of pars. He then added a birdie at the 14th hole (par 4), sticking his approach shot right next to the cup.
The chase for the lead intensified. Lee Jae-jin, Moon Dong-hyun, and Kim Chan-woo recorded a midway total of 7-under-par 206 to form a group tied for second, pressuring leader Kim by just one stroke. Song Min-hyuk also settled into a tie for sixth at a midway total of 5-under-par 208, three strokes behind the leader, leaving open the possibility of a come-from-behind victory on the final day.
Meanwhile, some of the mid-pack contenders who had shared the lead through the second round slipped down the rankings. Rookie Ahn Ji-min picked up five birdies but struggled with four bogeys and one double bogey, finishing with a 2-over-par 72. Ahn recorded a midway total of 6-under-par 207, dropping to a tie for fifth alongside Cho Woo-young, who lost one stroke on the day.
Choi Chan, another co-leader, saw his ranking plummet. Choi lost seven strokes on the day with two birdies, seven bogeys, and one double bogey, dropping to a tie for 34th at a midway total of 1-under-par 212.
With the third day of the tournament falling on Memorial Day, a time of remembrance was held on the course. When a memorial siren rang out during play to honor patriotic martyrs and fallen heroes, the players bowed their heads in unison to commemorate their noble sacrifice.
