'First title in 3,598 days': Lee Sang-yeop's stunning comeback, '23-under-par' sets all-time lowest score record at DB Insurance Open [Chuncheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Sang-yeop (32) has finally achieved the long-awaited moment of victory. It marks his second career title on the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, coming 9 years and 10 months after his first.

On the 19th, Lee shot a 6-under-par 66 in the final 4th round of the 21st DB Insurance Pro-Mi Open, the 2026 KPGA Tour opener, held at Chuncheon La Vie Belle Golf & Resort (par 72, 7,254 yards).

Finishing with a total of 23-under-par 265, Lee overtook Han Ok-tae (28, Geumgang Housing), who finished at 21-under-par 267, by two strokes after cutting eight shots on the day to claim the title.

Lee Sang-yeop won his first professional title at the Descente Korea Menswear Match Play on the 12th, 2016. He achieved his second KPGA Tour victory in just his 104th tournament appearance, lifting the trophy after 9 years and 10 months, precisely 3,598 days.

This was Lee's first stroke-play title and also broke the all-time records for most under-par and lowest total score in the history of the DB Insurance Pro-Mi Open. Previous records were set by Ko Gun-taek with 20-under-par (played on a par-72 course) in 2023 and by Yoon Sang-pil with 266 strokes (played on a par-71 course) in 2024.

Lee earned 200 million won in prize money and 1,000 Genesis points, securing first place in both categories to start the season.

After choosing to enlist in the military following the 2022 season, Lee gradually regained his form after being discharged in 2024. He returned to the KPGA Tour in 2025 but failed to maintain his seed status with a Genesis ranking of 105th, narrowly surviving through the Qualifying Tournament (QT).

It was a dramatic comeback. Lee started tied for first after cutting five strokes in the first round, then reduced his score by six strokes in the second round. In the third round, he recorded a 6-under-par without any bogeys, finishing two strokes behind leader Kwon Seong-yeol (40) and advancing to the championship group in second place.

Lee began with a birdie on the 1st hole (par 5) and added another birdie with a chip-in on the 2nd hole (par 4), moving into a tie for first place alongside Kwon Seong-yeol.

Lee's momentum was unstoppable after birding the 3rd hole. On the 4th hole (par 3), he landed his iron tee shot within 1.9 meters of the hole and reduced his score by another stroke. On the 5th hole (par 5), although his second shot landed in a bunker near the green, he escaped perfectly and cut another stroke. On the 6th hole (par 4), despite a difficult tee shot into a tricky rough, he executed a trouble shot to place the ball right next to the hole, securing a tap-in birdie and continuing his streak of six consecutive birdies.

After losing a stroke with a three-putt on the 8th hole (par 4), Lee fought back with sharp shots on the 11th hole (par 5) and 12th hole (par 3), securing back-to-back birdies once again.

On the 13th hole (par 4), where Lee had extended his lead to three strokes over Kwon, his second shot landed far from the hole, and he lost another stroke with a three-putt. Kwon, however, made a perfect escape from the green bunker and converted a par putt that was equivalent to a birdie.

The match was decided on the 15th hole (par 5). Kwon, who was two strokes behind, aimed directly at the green with his second shot to attempt an eagle but hit out of bounds (OB). After losing a stroke and re-shooting, his fourth shot also failed to reach the green. He missed a 1-meter inside bogey putt on his sixth shot, losing two strokes and dropping to third place.

In contrast, Lee made steady, conservative choices. He reached the green in three shots, missed a 1.3-meter birdie putt, but saved par, effectively securing the victory. The shaken Kwon committed a double bogey on the 18th hole (par 4), finishing with 16-under-par 272 strokes. Along with Wang Jeong-hoon, who birdied the final hole, Kwon ended the tournament tied for third place.

High school golfer Son Jay (16, Dongnae High School), invited as an amateur, delivered an unexpected result. Starting tied for 14th after the first round and slipping to tied for 23rd in the second round, he surged to tied for 5th after cutting seven strokes in the third round. On the final day, he recorded four birdies and two bogeys, finishing at 3-under-par, with a total of 15-under-par 273 strokes, tying for 5th place alongside Jeon Ga-ram and Lee Hyung-jun.

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*This content was translated by AI.