The KPGA Classic, the only modified Stableford event on the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour, with total prize money of 700 million won, will be held over four days starting Thursday at the North and West Courses (par 72) of Cypress Golf & Resort in Seogwipo, Jeju.
The tournament is played under a modified Stableford format, which determines rankings by awarding points based on each hole's score rather than strokes. A par earns 0 points, a birdie 2 points, an eagle 5 points, and an albatross 8 points. In contrast, a bogey is scored at –1 point, and a double bogey or worse is all scored at –3 points. To win, players must take an aggressive approach rather than a defensive one.
Bae Yong-jun is challenging for a second consecutive title following last year's win. Bae has shown strength in the modified Stableford format. As a rookie in 2022, he claimed his first career victory at the Honors K·Solago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational, played under the modified Stableford format, and last year he conquered the KPGA Classic, earning both of his wins in modified Stableford events.
"I like aggressive play, so the modified Stableford suits me well," Bae said. "I'll set aside the pressure of being the defending champion and focus only on my own game."
Moon Dong-hyun, who broke the record for the youngest tournament winner at last week's KPGA Championship, is going for back-to-back victories. Moon has posted outstanding results in every tournament he has entered this season, recording one win, one runner-up finish, and one tied-for-fourth finish across five events.
Others targeting their second win of the season include Lee Sang-yeop, winner of this season's DB Insurance Promy Open; Choi Chan, winner of the Woori Financial Group Championship; Song Min-hyuk, champion of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open; and Oh Seung-taek, winner of the KPGA Founders Cup.
