Jeon Ga-ram secured his fourth career victory at the Hyundai Marine & Marine Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, capping off a thrilling final round with a birdie on the 18th hole. The victory, achieved with a tight fist held aloft, marked a triumphant return to the top after a year-long wait.
In the final round at the Perum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province on September 28, Jeon shot a 2-under 70, finishing with a total of 14-under 274. He narrowly beat joint-second finishers Kim Baek-joon and Taehoon Lee (Canada) by one stroke, earning 250 million won in prize money. This victory came a year and three months after his last win at the KPGA Championship in June of the previous year.
Jeon, who began the final round in second place, one stroke behind the leader, faced a rocky start. He dropped a stroke by the eighth hole but regained his composure with a birdie on the 9th, then took the lead with birdies on the 11th and 14th holes. After a bogey on the 15th hole tied him with the leaders, Jeon remained calm, recording pars on the 16th and 17th holes to set up a dramatic finish.
On the 18th hole, a par-5, Jeon’s second shot landed on the green fringe, but his third shot veered past the hole, leaving him with a tricky 2.5-meter birdie putt. With the championship on the line, Jeon made the putt, securing the victory. His teammates, waiting at the 18th green, doused him with celebratory water as he shouted, “I did it.”
Jeon, who had been praised by Choi Kyung-ju during the 2019 SK Telecom Open, was handed the trophy by the tournament host himself. Reflecting on his victory, Jeon said, “I couldn’t let go of the tension until the last hole because the difficulty of the Perum Club is high. I’m so happy to have beaten such outstanding players to take the top spot.”
This win also holds special significance for Jeon as it comes after overcoming a tough first half of the season. Dealing with shoulder and back injuries, Jeon had even considered taking a break from competition. However, he persevered through rehabilitation and has now returned to top form.
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