▲ Jung Chan-min leading after the third round
Jung Chan-min continued his dominant momentum at the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour The Charity Classic (total prize purse of 1 billion won).
Playing the third round of the tournament today (October 17) at the Valley and Seowon courses of Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72), Jung carded a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 with six birdies.
Posting a 54-hole total of 23-under-par 193, Jung maintained his sole possession of the lead from the first round through the third, boosting his chances of securing a wire-to-wire victory.
His lead over second-place Shin Sang-hun (total of 19-under-par 197) widened to four strokes as Jung eyes his first win of the season and his third career victory.
Jung solidified his runaway lead in the tournament by grabbing four birdies on the front nine alone.
On the 11th hole (par 5), he easily picked up a birdie after launching his tee shot an impressive 316 yards.
At the 13th hole (par 3), where he had bogeyed in the second round, he landed his tee shot 3.3 meters from the pin and successfully converted the putt to pick up another stroke.
Jung said, "I figured that if I didn't lower my score today, the final round would become very difficult, so I focused even more. I feel that my ball-striking is in great shape, and my putting has visibly improved, which has boosted my confidence."
Shin Sang-hun, who has one win this season and sits second in the Genesis points race, kept up the chase by shaving six strokes off his score for the day.
Following second-place Shin, Kim Baek-jun and Kim Yeon-seob tied for third place at 17-under-par 199.
Trailing Jung by six strokes, they face a tough uphill battle in the final round.
(Photo: Provided by KPGA, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.