Jeong Han-mil Leads KPGA Gunsan CC Open, Eyes First Career Title

Jeong Han-mil is poised to claim his first career victory at the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour Gunsan CC Open.

Jeong shot a 6-under-par 66 in the third round held Saturday at the Tournament Course (par 72) of Gunsan Country Club in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, carding seven birdies against one bogey. After a strong second round, he continued his hot streak for a second straight day, reaching a tournament total of 14-under-par 202. He moved from a share of the lead the previous day to the sole lead, claiming the top spot on the leaderboard.

Jeong, who has yet to lift a trophy since his KPGA Tour debut in 2017, established a commanding lead by collecting five birdies on the front nine alone. He added three more birdies on the back nine to widen the gap with the second-place group. But Jeong faced a crisis on the final 18th hole (par 4). His second shot missed the green, leaving a tricky par putt of more than 10 meters, and he finished with a bogey, dropping a stroke at the close of his round.

The chasers behind Jeong are also showing strong momentum. The group tied for second includes Kim Min-jun, Kim Sung-hyun, and Kim Hong-taik, all at 11-under-par 205, three strokes off the lead and looking for a chance to come from behind. National team member Yu Min-hyuk, who has been stirring up an amateur sensation, sits in fifth (10-under-par 206) after shaving four strokes Saturday. Trailing the leader by four strokes, Yu has kept alive his hopes of a come-from-behind victory on the final day. The most recent case of an amateur reaching the top in the KPGA Tour was Jang Yu-bin, who won this very tournament in 2023.

Meanwhile, Jang Yu-bin, considered a strong favorite in this tournament and aiming for the remarkable feat of three consecutive wins, managed only two strokes with three birdies and one bogey on the day. At 9-under-par 207, Jang slipped to a tie for sixth, falling five strokes behind leader Jeong, and now carries a heavy burden in his bid to turn things around on the final day.