Total prize pool of 42.5 billion won: '2026 GOLFZON China Open' final qualifiers include Kim Hong-taek, Ji Han-sol, Lee Seong-hoon, and Hong Hyun-ji

*This content was translated by AI.

On the 28th, GOLFZON Co., Ltd. (CEO Park Kang-soo) announced that it has finalized the list of qualifiers for the final tournament to be held in December after concluding the Korean main event of the '2026 GOLFZON China Open'.

The '2026 GOLFZON CHINA OPEN' is a global tournament with a total prize pool of approximately 42.5 billion won and a first-place prize of about 10.5 billion won, featuring professional and amateur golfers from around the world participating across regions including Korea, China, Asia (excluding Korea and China), the Americas, and Europe.

Earlier, from March 10 to May 31 over approximately three months, about 20,000 golfers participated in the domestic preliminary rounds, comprising 4,461 professionals and 15,523 amateurs, exceeding 40,000 total rounds played. Among participants who met the qualification criteria for the main tournament based on their preliminary results, approximately 200 professional and amateur golfers competed in two sessions held at GOLFZON CityGolf Yanji No. 2 in China during July and August.

The Korean main event selected a total of 20 finalists (15 professionals and 5 amateurs) across Professional Division A, Professional Division B, and the General Division. The Professional Division A main tournament was held from July 20 to 24 at GOLFZON CityGolf Yanji No. 2 in China, featuring players with KPGA or KLPGA championship titles and those ranked within the top 30 on the 2025 season's first-tier tour prize money list. Five golfers secured their spots in the finals: Kim Hong-taek, Lee Tae-hee, Ji Han-sol, Kim Han-byul, and Jeon Jae-han, all finishing in the top five of Professional Division A.

The Korean Professional Division B was held twice: from July 21 to 26 and again from August 21 to 27, while the General Division main event took place at the same venue from August 21 to 27. Competition in Professional Division B was particularly fierce. Lee Seong-hoon, a strong competitor on GTOUR, tied for first place with Yeom Don-woong and Seo Ha-bin, securing his spot in the finals. Hong Hyun-ji, a top performer on WGTOUR, finished fourth, joining ten other professionals including Kang Seung-hyun, Lee Jin-kyung, Shim Hyeon-woo, Kim Min-su, Lee Jeong-woong, and Park Dan-yu in the finals. In the General Division, five golfers advanced to the finals: Won Sung-jun (first place), Park Min-ha, Jung Cheong, Kim Sung-soo, and Park Se-jung.

In the China main event, Zhao Zixi, the 2025 GOLFZON China Open champion, and Wang Zixuan, who also competes in KLPGA, are performing well, with the final qualifiers to be determined through the main tournament running until the 31st. In Asia outside of Korea and China, Japan will send Sakura Yokomine, a veteran with 23 career JLPGA wins, along with Terra-Yu, a YouTuber with over one million subscribers, to the finals. In the Americas, the winner of GOLFZON TOUR Season 3, organized by GOLFZON America, will be granted participation rights in the finals. The European region is currently selecting its finalists. The final tournament to determine the overall champion will take place from December 17 to 20 over four days at GOLFZON CityGolf Chengdu No. 3 in China, with 170 participants.

GOLFZON's New Business Division Son Jang-sun (Head) stated, "We ask for your continued interest in the final tournament to be held at GOLFZON CityGolf Chengdu No. 3. Moving forward, we will strive to provide global golfers with opportunities to participate in tours and various forms of enjoyment based on GOLFZON's simulator technology."

Meanwhile, CITYGOLF, where this tournament is being held, is an urban golf platform first introduced by GOLFZON in China in 2024. It currently operates locations in Tianjin (No. 1) and Yanji (No. 2), with the Chengdu location (No. 3) set to open soon. Additionally, GOLFZON America, the U.S. subsidiary of GOLFZON, plans to open 'CITYGOLF USA' Nashville Flagship No. 1, the first indoor 18-hole golf course in the United States, in Nashville, Tennessee, marking its entry into the U.S. market.

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*This content was translated by AI.