After five years, Hwang Jung-gon got his hands on another trophy

Golf

Published: 03 Jul. 2022, 18:21

After five years, Hwang Jung-gon got his hands on another trophy

Hwang Jung-gon celebrates winning the Asiad CC Busan Open on Sunday at Asiad Country Club in Busan. [KPGA]

Hwang Jung-gon tees off on the seventh hole during the final round of the Asiad CC Busan Open on Sunday at Asiad Country Club in Busan. [KPGA]

Hwang Jung-gon won the Asiad CC Busan Open on Sunday at the Asiad Country Club in Busan after playing three playoff holes against Kwon O-sang.

This is Hwang's seventh career title and a first in five years.

In the start of the final round, Hwang was three strokes ahead of the runner-up, having carded a 65 on the third round after carding a 68 on the first round and a 67 on the second round.

Even though Hwang was able to find two birdies in the first nine of the final round, he wavered in the second nine, carding a bogey on the par-4 11th and another bogey on the par-5 15th.

Hwang made a mistake on his second shot on the par-5 15th that led to a bogey. Trying to hit out of the rough, Hwang topped the ball, which landed short though it still managed to stay on the fairway.

"The ball was in a bad lie in the 15th hole," said Hwang at a post-match interview.

"I didn't see the hill in front, and I don't think I choose my golf club well."

Hwang managed to hit the ball back on the green but missed his par putt, carding a bogey. Kwon and Lee Jun-seok of Australia were just one stroke behind by the 15th hole.

Kwon O-sang tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Asiad CC Busan Open on Sunday at Asiad Country Club in Busan. [KPGA]

Kwon had a steadier bogeyless round, carding four bogies in the par-5 ninth, par-4 14th, par-3 16th and par-4 17th.

Kwon's birdie on the par-4 17th put Kwon on top of the leaderboard, but with Hwang slotting in his birdie putt in the last hole while Kwon narrowly missed, Hwang and Kwon were tied at 14-under-par, 270, and the match was pushed to a sudden-death playoff.

Hwang and Kwon took to the par-4 18th teeing ground three times, both parring in their first two attempts. But in the end, it was Hwang who emerged victorious after a sharp iron shot that landed his ball right next to the hole, lining him up for an easy birdie putt.

"I am so glad that I was able to win today," said Hwang at a post-match interview on Sunday.

"I think my win came earlier than I expected, so I am very pleased. I said this before, but I have never had multiple wins in one season so my aim this year is to win multiple titles."

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]