PAJU — What finally stood in the way of Jung Chan-min, the 27-year-old CJ-sponsored player nicknamed "Hulk," after three days of dominance was wind and driving rain. A downpour midway through the final round forced a temporary suspension of play, and his lead over the chasing group narrowed from as many as five or six strokes to two, putting his victory in doubt.
Jung, though, drew on his trademark resilience to ride out the trouble. He dropped another stroke on the first hole after play resumed, but gave away nothing more the rest of the way and held off his pursuers to claim the trophy.
Jung shot a four-over 76 in the final round of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour's The Charity Classic, played on the 18th at the par-72 Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The tournament carried a total purse of 1 billion won ($730,000). His 19-under total of 269 left him one stroke clear of runner-up Shin Sang-hoon.
It was a wire-to-wire victory, with Jung leading from the opening day, and his third career title — his first since the Golfzon·Toray Open in November 2023.
The win also ended a run of near-misses that had dogged him all season. He had been in position to win at the Founders Cup in May and the Golfzon Open in September, only to falter late and finish second both times. The Golfzon Open stung most of all: he lost to Shin in a playoff after a tight duel.
This time was different. Jung never let the lead slip, however hard the chase, and lifted the trophy. The victory added 1,000 Genesis points, moving him to second in the season-long points race with 4,744.77, behind leader Shin on 4,807.94. With three events left, his first Genesis Points crown is within reach.
Jung put himself in contention from the opening round, when an eagle and eight birdies carried him to a nine-under round and the outright lead. He tightened his grip in the second round with nine birdies and a single bogey for a 17-under halfway total.
On the third day he added six birdies without a bogey, matching the KPGA Tour's 54-hole scoring record of 193.
The final round, with wind and rain in play, proved harder. He made his first bogey of the week at the par-3 eighth, then wobbled with a double bogey at the par-4 10th.
Even so, Jung steadied himself through several holes that threatened far worse damage, limiting himself to a four-over round. He stood firm in particular after the rain delay, when the chasing group closed to within striking distance. The decisive moment came at the par-3 17th, where he saved par after driving into a bunker, one hole after a bogey.
Sharper iron play drove the win. Jung hit 94.4% of greens in regulation in each of the first two rounds, 17 of 18, then 18 of 18 in the third round as he pulled clear.
Kim Baek-jun finished third on his own at 17 under, with two-time winner this season Choi Chan next at 16 under. Jang Yu-bin, the 2024 Genesis Points winner and a two-time champion this season, tied for 53rd and surrendered the lead in the points standings.