Jang Yu-bin, who has been in top form recently, will pursue a third consecutive victory at the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour Gunsan CC Open, which begins Sept. 25 at Gunsan CC in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province.
After sweeping major categories including Player of the Year, leading money winner and lowest scoring average on the 2024 KPGA Tour, Jang left for LIV Golf the following year. He returned to the domestic circuit this year and won the KPGA Classic and the Hana Bank Invitational in succession.
Gunsan CC, where this tournament is held, is virtually a "home turf" for Jang. He has captured two of his five career victories at Gunsan CC. He won at Gunsan CC in 2023 as an amateur and successfully defended his title the following year.
Right after winning the Hana Bank Invitational, Jang said, "I know it is a rare record that has been achieved only a few times, and I am grateful to be able to challenge that record." He added, "I will prepare well and play aggressively at Gunsan CC too. I will achieve a third straight victory."
There is a reason for Jang's confidence. The Gunsan CC tournament course is long and features many vertical bunkers around the greens, requiring both long drives and precise iron shots. That suits Jang, whose strengths are his driver shots and long irons. "Gunsan CC is my favorite course," Jang said.
While Jang leads in Player of the Year points (3,376 points) and in season earnings (about 569 million won), his rivals are mounting a formidable chase. Moon Dong-hyun, Yang Ji-ho, Moon Do-yeop and Song Min-hyuk, each of whom has claimed one win this season, will compete in a bid to check Jang.
For the Gunsan CC Open, the total purse and the winner's prize are determined by combining the proceeds from the final day of last year's tournament with the proceeds from rounds one through three of this year's event.
