Kolon Korea Open | Asian Tour | Round 1 highlights | 2025

Pre-qualifier Jung steals limelight on first day at Kolon Korea Open

Qualifier Yujun Jung from Korea is the surprise first-round leader at the Kolon Korea Open, after he carded a six-under-par 65 on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club.

Jung made it through a 36 pre-qualifier, at the same venue, earlier in the month and drew on that experience to set the pace today shooting a spotless bogey-free round.

He made six birdies and leads by two from Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Australian Jed Morgan, both in with 67s – in what is the 67th staging over Korea’s flagship event and the seventh stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Jung, aged 22, only debuted on the Korean PGA Tour two years ago but showed little sign of his inexperience at this level today.

Well, a very good afternoon and welcome to the 67th staging of the Colon Korea Open here at a brand new venue on the Asian Tour, the Dunes Course at Lavier Bell, just outside the city of Chunion. It’s the seventh leg of the 2025 Asian Tour season and it’s the national championship here in South Korea. Well, lots transpired already here on day one. Let’s show you what’s happened. Jazz Jane Watin and on one of the co-runner ups at the Mong Open. One of the few highlights in his day, a birdie there at the first. He would pick up another at the second. Roots of a par four that can play over 540 yards long. Jazz made short work of that. And we saw Hango Yan make a nice appearance in the last visit for the Asian Tour at Meyong. Getting off to a nice start today. Yeah, but this is the real surprise. Eugen Jung came through the qualifier to get into this championship and he is certainly making the most of that start. 38 players got through that qualifier at the start of the week. That was a birdie at the first and this was a birdie at the six. So Jun Jung currently enjoying a twoshot cushion at six under bar and winner last year. He Jang getting one of the rare birdies at this 500yd plus par4 that has been just confounding the players. and Ryan Peak the winner from New Zealand early portion of the year on his final hole missing the green well to the right but recovering nicely be an opening round of even par for Ryan Peak of course it has to be said that this also is an open qualifying venue top two finishes not already exempt like that man the New Zealand open champion will earn births to royal Port Rush for the season’s final major. Kim Kang back one of those two spots a couple of years ago. Never won one of the big four events in South Korea, but got his campaign this week. Off to a very good start. An excellent approach into the first and go on to roll in that birdie to take him one under par. And good to see Som getting off to a nice start. had one of the rare missed cuts on his last event is Japan putting the nice final touches on his round with a beautiful second into the ninth. Also, Chongun Wang. He’s been having an up and down season for the three-time winner on the European tour. Plenty of birdies out there early but only 24 players in red figures. It’s the qualifier Eugen Jung who leads by two over Pata Kong Mai making only his third start of the season. Diamond off to a solid start with a four underpar round of 67. Tahhun Oaky opportunity here at the par 34th. Excellent T-OT to leave himself in this spot. Nicely converted for Taher. Nope. Gets himself back to even power for the round. Surprise leader at this stage of the championship. Eugen Jung mentioned earlier came through the qualifier to earn a spot in this Korean open field. That’s a par putt at the eighth. Yeah, well done. Nicely hold there. That is unpleasant. Here’s your leader being tested late on his final hole of the round. to get up and down for a par. Beautiful shot there from Jung. Here’s Eugen Jung for round of six under coming through the qualifier. It was originally stated that 15 players will make it through. who finished 32nd last week at the 36 hole qualifier at this venue. They got the call up as the field got finalized and taken full advantage. Great opening round. Terrific stuff there. Bogey free round of 65 for Yu Jun Jung for Birdie. Scoring kufflele there. early doors and wow that’s a wonderful way to finish for Prati Tianai’s the difficult 16th and closing hole for a round of 69 has always been able to roll the rock really well on the green see Kim that’s a scrambling save at the last and former order of merit champion start his week with the 70. A chance to get himself the right side of par. Roll it in. He does. Lovely birdie for Bo Kim. Should move a little off his right. Just enough on it. will stay at two under par which is four shots a drift of our championship leader. He’s in the penalty area but not in the water. So still a chance to salvage the situation for Kim. Oh, go in. Why don’t you? Oh my goodness. How unlucky. Now great T-shot from Sunung Su Han at the par three and still can’t get one to drop. We saw Buri Buna go a little long and left on the 17th. Haven’t seen anyone over here yet this afternoon. Beautifully judged, beautifully played for David Buri Buna. Now come on, Minku. Birdie putt on the 10th. Lovely approach. Well done, Minky. Kim. He’s off and running. Gets back to five over par, but he’s picked up a first birdie of the day. All right, no mistakes this time. First drop shot of the day. Back to even power for Bio. Pretty straightforward little chip here. It’s makeable. Oh, they had the line. Good touch. Got to get his round back in the correct direction. Got a good opportunity on this and the next hole in the par five 13th. Oh, beautiful. You ask, Richard Lee delivers. A stunner there from the Canadian. But all can be made amends for if this one drops for bin Choy. He’s got every chance. Oh, that is cruel and unusual punishment for Joy. Did everything but go in there. Oh, you haven’t done it again. You have. Thank you, Kim. Just having an absolute nightmare here as a result. Playing has gotten back up significantly. Reach for a shorter club. So surely now a layup. Second over the cart path. Fourth, the same fate. That was played six. Plenty of spin on it coming from the fairway cut. Oh, excellent shot there from the 2023 champion. Will he finally yield a birdie for the American? Back to one over par. Excellent third shot there by Sun Choy. Oh, a little bonus chip in there on the 18th. Nicely done. to get back to level parenchy. Okay, very nicely done. Takes advantage of that supremely judged wedge shot. If he can leave this ball on the green just underneath the hole, that’ll be a tremendous shot from here. Pretty good. Pretty good indeed from David Buri Bunup. And it’s going to get better by the minute as it catches the slope. Watch this one funnel. Beautiful shot for David. After Buri Bunam’s brilliant approach into the fifth, it’s all that’s left for birdie. The tie moves alongside Kong Watti at four under power. He’s within two of your leader. Oh, Bo Kim. That’s a nice bounce back after the double on the 13th. A chip in for birdie at 14. Well done, Bio. Right on queue, Richard Lee salvages another great pass saving putt like he did on 10 and his butt would start to move left. Oh, that stayed straight. Well read by Bori Bunup, but unlucky perhaps. Ultimately pays the price for that poor second shot. So first bogey of the day comes at the par 56 for Buri Bunab. Hill. Couple of opportunities upcoming went out in the first group of the afternoon wave in the company of Kevin Yan and Minwi Kim came through that qualifier and Kang Booken birdies for the 42y old. It took a while and that’s a second birdie of the day and it’s a round of 72. One overpower for Kim Nam Kang. First buddy of the day comes courtesy of a chip in 17 for Sang Moon Bay. Really a delightful character. Doesn’t take himself overly serious. Definitely not hurting your chances being even par. I think that’s good for 27th place. Why settle for a share of 27th when you can move into a share of 15th? Great birdie there for Ben Choy himself back to red figures. Yeah, but this is definitely a birdie opportunity that he is thinking about making and make it he will birdie there as well for boim. He’ll move to even part back to Burun but seven for his part. Okay, safely in. So, as our coverage of day one comes to a close, it’s Eugen Jung who continues to lead the way. He will sleep on the lead. Hope you can join us for day two, but until then, it’s bye-bye for now. My name is Cal Data. Thanks for watching the Asian Tour on YouTube. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.