The year 2023 is the year of the cat symbolizing the ‘black rabbit’. Since ancient times, rabbits have symbolized fertility and abundance. Who will be the ‘Rabbit’ player among the KPGA Korean Tour players in the 2023 season?
In-hoe Heo (36) and Dong-seop Maeng (36) are expected to play a role in the KPGA Korean Tour this season. The two also ate rice together as members of the Armed Forces Sports Unit, which was temporarily created for the 2015 Mungyeong World Military Games. This year, with the birth of a son and daughter, respectively, it seems that they will have more responsibility and determination than ever before.
Heo In-hoe, who has a total of 5 wins (4 wins in Korea and 1 win in Japan tour), ranked first in the KPGA Korean Tour Average Putts category last year. Heo In-hoe said, “My son will be born in February this year. I want to be a great father with good grades,” he said. “I will make up for what I lacked last year and make the Year of the Rabbit the ‘Year of Heo In-hoe’.”
Maeng Dong-seop, who has three wins on the KPGA Korean Tour, dreams of a new leap forward. Maeng Dong-seop, who shook off his injury last year, participated in a total of 15 competitions in the 2022 season and passed the cut in 7 competitions, including 4 top 10, and had a successful comeback season. Maeng Dong-seop said, “My daughter will be born in April. He said, “I want to be a proud father,” and “I had a satisfactory season last year.” 스포츠토토
Jeong Chan-min (24) and Ko Gun-taek (24), born in 1999, who are 12 years younger than Heo In-hoe and Maeng Dong-seop, aim for their first win on the KPGA Korean Tour in the 2023 season. Jung Chan-min, who debuted last year, became the long hit king with an average of 317.111 yards in the 2022 season. He competed in 14 events and managed to pass 7 rounds of events, including 2 top 10s, but he rarely entered the top ranks.
Jeong Chan-min said, “I won the long hit award, which was my goal for 2022, but it was regrettable that I could not achieve the championship. In 2023, the goal is to record the first win,” he said. “We will challenge the first win by supplementing the short game that was lacking last year and increasing the fairway landing rate.”
Go Gun-taek, a former national team member, is also noteworthy. On the first day of the 2019 Genesis Championship, Go Gun-taek, who broke the course record at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea with an eagle and 8 birdies and a 10 under par 62, is knocking on the door to win every year. Attention is focusing on whether Go Gun-taek, who tied for 4th at the KB Financial Live Championship last year and recorded the highest ever record, will achieve his first victory in 4 years of his debut.
Lee Jae-gyeong, who won two KPGA Korean Tour titles including the 2019 Castelbazak Rookie Award (Myeongchulsang), is also sweating to make up for the sluggish performance of last season with the new Rabbit in 1999. On the other hand, ‘Rabbit rookies’ who will debut on this year’s tour, such as Kim Eui-in (24), Park Hyung-wook (24), and Yoon Do-won (24), are also putting their full effort into preparing for the season.