Golfzon, Min-wook Choi and Jin-kyung Lee each win the 6th GTOUR and WGTOUR of 2026... 15 and 5 career victories respectively

*This content was translated by AI.

Golfzon Co., Ltd. (CEO Park Kang-soo) recently announced that Min-wook Choi secured the title of Major King and recorded his 15th career GTOUR victory at the final round of the 6th Major Tournament of the '2026 Shinhan Investment Corp GTOUR', held on Saturday, the 8th at Daejeon Golfzon Joymaru. Choi finished with a total score of 17-under par (9-under in Round 1 and 8-under in Round 2). Meanwhile, Jin-kyung Lee claimed her third title of the season by winning the final round of the 6th Major Tournament of the '2026 Lotte Rent-a-Car WGTOUR' held at the same venue on Sunday, the 9th, also finishing with a total score of 17-under par (9-under in Round 1 and 8-under in Round 2).

The 6th Major Tournament of the '2026 Shinhan Investment Corp GTOUR' featured Shinhan Investment Corp as the main sponsor. Sub-sponsors included Challenger Golfwear, Srixon, Vienna Coffee House, and My Caddie, while Golden Blue, a liquor company, served as the Grand Prize Point sponsor. This tournament was the second major event of the season organized by Golfzon to strengthen tour competitiveness, featuring an expanded prize pool and various benefits such as seed rights and KPGA tour entry qualifications. The total prize money amounted to 120 million won.

The competition was conducted in a single day with two rounds of 36 holes of stroke play using the T-View NX Plus Tour Mode. Recently introduced by Golfzon, the simulator T-View NX Plus is equipped with an AI spin sensor that replicates spin and ball flight characteristics close to those on actual courses, enhancing course immersion. With more realistic course graphics, it delivers detailed round environments including shot results, ball trajectory, and course conditions, allowing both spectators and players to experience the upgraded appeal of screen golf tours.

The tournament course was the challenging championship-level No. 4 course at Coxhill Golf Club, befitting a major event. Strategically placed bunkers in each landing area made tee shot accuracy crucial, while severe green slopes and difficult undulations required precise pin targeting and putting. As a result, the key to victory lay in green play, making it an exciting point of interest as spectators watched players employ diverse strategies. A total of 88 players, including strong seed-ranked competitors from GTOUR with its increasingly deep player pool and numerous KPGA-recommended players, participated in the first round. After the cut, 64 players continued to compete fiercely for the Major King title.

As a major tournament, the final round featured intense competition until the last hole of the final round. Starting the final round four strokes behind the leader, Min-wook Choi began with a bogey on the first hole but then recorded nine consecutive birdies without any further bogeys, finishing at 17-under par to claim the Major King title. Particularly impressive was his calm play under pressure during the latter holes while competing in a multi-way tie for the lead. His excellent putting touch, highlighted by a successful 0.8-meter birdie putt on the 17th hole, secured his 15th career GTOUR victory.

Yoon Jae-in, who started the final round in sole first place, unfortunately conceded many strokes due to repeated errors early on but promised future performances. Kim Han-byul of KPGA, showing good form since returning from military service, finished as co-runner-up alongside Jun Ji-ho, Lee Sung-hoon, and Yeom Don-woong with clean play throughout the tournament. Notably, Yeom Don-woong, who joined late through the offline preliminary rounds of this major event, recorded an albatross on the 15th hole of the final round, drawing cheers from the gallery. Other players such as Ha Ki-won, Shim Hyun-woo, and Park Chan-hee1 also delivered thrilling shots in a memorable match.

The GTOUR is open to free viewing. The venue at Daejeon Golfzon Joymaru, where the competition took place, was bustling with spectators who came to experience the live screen golf tour firsthand. Event activities, photo zones, and refreshments were prepared for the gallery. With a strong lineup of participants including KPGA tour professionals, interest in the 6th round prediction event was high. Over 10,000 viewers participated in the real-time YouTube live broadcast, reflecting the growing popularity of GTOUR.

During the awards ceremony held after the competition, the winner received a prize of 25 million won (3,000 Grand Prize Points) and was presented with the Blue Jacket, the symbol of GTOUR. As a major tournament benefit, the winner also received seed rights for three years including the current year and an entry qualification to participate in the 'Golfzon Open' organized by KPGA at Golfzon County Suncheon from September 17 to 20.

Champion Min-wook Choi stated, "I am also preparing for the first division tour, and the T-View NX Plus system has been very helpful in replicating field ball flight characteristics through its sensors. I will strive to deliver excellent performances both on screen and on actual courses this season with the goal of winning the GTOUR prize money title and Grand Prize title."

Meanwhile, the total prize money for the 6th Major Tournament of the '2026 Lotte Rent-a-Car WGTOUR' was 120 million won, with Lotte Rent-a-Car serving as the main sponsor. Sub-sponsors included Challenger Golfwear, Srixon, Caddytalk, Vienna Coffee House, and 1879, while Golden Blue, a liquor company, acted as the Grand Prize Point sponsor. As a major tournament benefit, the winner received seed rights for three years including the current year and a voucher for Lotte Rent-a-Car vehicle usage and management services as a prize.

The competition was conducted in a single day with two rounds of 36 holes of stroke play using the T-View NX Plus Tour Mode.

The tournament course was the challenging Lotte Skyhill Buryeong CC (SKY/HILL), rated three stars for course difficulty and four stars for green difficulty by Golfzon. Significant variations in tee box settings across holes made player strategy crucial, while difficult green play required overcoming slope challenges based on pin positions and targeting putting spots to make scores. A total of 80 players, including seed-ranked competitors, qualifiers from preliminary rounds, and rookie players, participated in the first round. After the cut, 60 players competed fiercely for the Major Queen title in the final round.

Jin-kyung Lee, who claimed the Major Queen title, struggled early in the first round but dominated with powerful shots in the latter holes to enter the final round tied for the lead. Displaying calmness and precision, she recorded eight birdies without any bogeys in the final round, finishing at 17-under par to secure her third title of the season and fifth career WGTOUR victory. Notably, this season she not only won multiple times but also claimed victories in both the 3rd and 6th major tournaments, solidifying her position as a top contender in WGTOUR.

This major tournament featured intense competition between established WGTOUR stars and newcomers from the early stages of the final round, with multiple players tied for the lead becoming a key point of interest. Kim A-ro-mi, making her third appearance in a screen tournament, performed brilliantly to earn recognition from the gallery, finishing alone in fifth place after conceding one stroke on the final hole with a bogey. Young Yoon2, who displayed excellent distance control and putting skills along with unwavering confidence, showcased fierce competition for the lead and promised future performances. Choi Sa-rang2, known for her aggressive and bold play, and Han Jimin, who once again proved herself as a WGTOUR powerhouse, finished in co-second place as runners-up.

Golfzon Screen Golf Tour events are open to free viewing. The venue at Golfzon Joymaru, equipped with various gallery events, was filled with spectators eager to watch the live WGTOUR matches. As this was a fiercely contested major tournament, participation in the prediction event for matching the top six finishers was highly enthusiastic. Over 11,000 viewers joined the YouTube live broadcast, reflecting the growing fan interest in WGTOUR.

During the awards ceremony held after the competition, the winner received a prize of 25 million won (3,000 Grand Prize Points) and was presented with the Red Jacket, the symbol of WGTOUR. As a special benefit, the winner also received seed rights for three years including the current year and a voucher for Lotte Rent-a-Car vehicle usage and management services as a prize. Champion Jin-kyung Lee stated, "I sincerely thank all sponsor representatives who have always trusted and supported me. I believe practice is the key to success, and as a result of fully dedicating myself to training, this season has gone well for me. I will continue to work hard with the goal of winning in the remaining tournaments."

Additionally, the '1879 Long Drive Award', presented once per season to the player who hits the longest drive on the long-distance hole, was awarded to Park Jeong-won, who recorded a distance of 240.5 meters.

Meanwhile, the history, tournaments, player records, and highlights from past matches of Golfzon GTOUR and WGTOUR, Korea's representative screen golf tours celebrating their 15th anniversary, can be viewed on the official website.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.