All 18 holes were put on the green except for the words "one eagle and seven birdies" that were flawless. Everything went well
Oct 16, 2025
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Will Lee Soo-min blow away his severe slump this season by winning the championship.
KPGA Tour powerhouse Lee Soo-min took the lead with 9 under par in the first round of the KPGA Tour's The Charity Classic held at Seowon Valley CC in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 16th.
He added seven birdies to one eagle, signaling a lackluster escape with an impeccable play. Lee Soo-min was sluggish enough to rank 89th in Genesis points this season. However, with a perfect first-round play, he will try to win his sixth KPGA Tour title since winning the Hyundai Marine Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational last year.
The following is a Q&A with Lee Soo-min after the first round.
-Looking back on today's round?
▶It was a game where everything went well. All 18 holes were put on the green. Green Speed is a fast and difficult course. The putt didn't go well just in the practice round, but I got the hang of it by practicing for a long time. There were many chances in the beginning and there were some parts that were generally well utilized but did not go in. However, overall, I think it ended well because there were no major mistakes.
-We've been sluggish this season, so can today's economy signal a rebound?
▶I practiced consistently and my shots got much better than last year, but my grades didn't come out well, so I'm questioning myself. You will endure this period well. I try to play that day without giving too much meaning to the situation.
-Do you still have dreams about the PGA Tour?
▶It is valid. (Laughs) After being discharged from the military, I tried to build a foundation in the KPGA Tour and challenge myself to the PGA Tour Cue School, but it was delayed because my performance was not as good as I thought. I'm thinking of trying again next year. There are many competitive competitions not only on the PGA Tour but also on the Asian Tour, so I'm thinking of participating. When I played on the DP World Tour, I felt that my skills were improving a lot. We plan to challenge the PGA Tour positively and as soon as possible.
-What's your strategy for round 2?
▶The primary goal is to put a lot on the green. As the wind blows a lot on the course and the weather gets colder, the green is likely to become hard. I heard that the weather gets very cold, especially on Sunday when there is a final round. It is expected to be more difficult than today because the colder the weather gets, the harder the green will become and there won't be much distance. In particular, among the par-5 holes, there are holes that are difficult to 2 on. I used a lot of drivers today, so I succeeded in 2 on, but I think I need a strategy such as cutting it off more depending on the weather. I'm not the only one who is difficult because all the players are playing in the same situation. I'm going to try to reduce the number of pars as much as possible by tomorrow and solve the remaining rounds with a strategy of holding out.
-What's your goal for this competition?
▶I finished the first round well in the lead, so I think I can maintain a good performance. Since I have won, I know what to do in this situation. I think I've found confidence in my putt. Overall, I'm having a sluggish season, but I'll do my best to finish the remaining three days.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
