YANG Jiho “The Eagle Gave Me Confidence” — Just 18 Holes Away from Korea Open Glory

[Yangpyeong=Kang Byeong-koo] YANG Jiho continued his march toward the summit of Woo Jeong Hills Country Club during the third round of the 68th Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship.

Playing at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, on June 23, Yang carded one eagle, five birdies, and three bogeys for a 4-under-par 67. His three-round total of 14-under-par 199 allowed him to maintain sole possession of the lead heading into the final day.

Throughout the championship, Yang’s success has been built less on power and more on precision, patience, and composure. The defining moment of the third round came at the par-5 fifth hole.

After his second shot found deep rough, Yang appeared to be facing a difficult situation. Instead, the challenge turned into a turning point. From approximately 40 yards away, his approach shot struck the flagstick and dropped directly into the hole for a spectacular eagle.

After the round, Yang reflected on the moment with a smile.

“My caddie and I were simply trying to make par safely, but the shot hit the pin and went in,” he said. “That eagle gave me a lot of confidence and momentum.”

The statistics reflected his consistency. Along with the eagle and five birdies, Yang continued to perform at a high level on the greens, maintaining strong putting numbers throughout the day. His ability to remain calm under pressure has been one of the key reasons he remains atop the leaderboard.

Despite holding the lead, Yang remains focused and cautious.

“In the end, the person I need to be most careful of is myself,” he said. “Tomorrow, I won’t think about it as the Korea Open. I’ll simply play with courage and trust my game.”

Now only one day and 18 holes remain.

Having led the championship for three consecutive rounds, Yang Jiho stands on the brink of the biggest victory of his career. All eyes will be on whether he can overcome the final challenge at Woo Jeong Hills and lift the prestigious Korea Open trophy.