The Kolon Korea Open concluded with an exhilarating final round on the Dune Course at La Vie Est Belle, a challenging new layout introduced to the championship. The course proved difficult for most competitors, with an average score of nearly three strokes over par on the par-71 setup. Even the par-five holes played above par, and the narrow fairways were especially tough to navigate, with only two players managing to hit at least half of them.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana emerged as the champion after a closely contested battle with fellow Thai and close friend Poom Saksansin. Both players demonstrated exceptional skill on the demanding greens. Sadom’s putting was outstanding, ranking near the top in putts per greens in regulation and putts per round. Despite hitting only seven greens in regulation during the final round, he managed to shoot one under par by successfully scrambling eight times out of eleven attempts. His strong short game helped him keep bogeys to a minimum, tying for the fewest bogeys or worse alongside two other players.
Sadom’s driving and iron play were also impressive, with solid rankings in greens in regulation and fairways hit, and an average driving distance close to 279 yards. Poom Saksansin’s putting was excellent through the first three days, leading in putts per round and ranking second in putts per greens in regulation after 54 holes. Although his putting performance dipped slightly on the final day, he still finished with strong statistics and made 16 birdies throughout the tournament, just one less than the birdie leader and one more than the winner.
Poom also excelled in his approach shots and driving accuracy, ranking highly in greens in regulation and fairways hit, despite being the shortest driver off the tee among those who made the cut. The longest driver in the field averaged over 312 yards. Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho made a remarkable move up the leaderboard with a bogey-free final round of 64, the lowest score of the week, finishing tied for fourth and marking one of his best performances on the Asian Tour.
Several players led key statistical categories during the event. Leaders included those with the fewest putts per round and per greens in regulation, highest greens in regulation, and most fairways hit. The longest driving distance was recorded by a Thai player, while multiple Korean players shared the most eagles. The fewest bogeys or worse and scrambling percentages were also led by standout performers. Sadom Kaewkanjana showed notable resilience with the best bounce-back rate.
The tournament featured a $1 million purse, with the winner receiving $180,000, valuable world ranking points, a two-year Asian Tour exemption, and a spot in The Open Championship. The runner-up earned $110,000. The event was part of the global Open Qualifying Series, with only the champion securing a place at The Open. The Dune Course was recognized for its difficulty, featuring narrow fairways and water hazards on most holes, including a demanding 600-yard par-5. The defending champion withdrew due to injury, allowing new contenders to vie for the title.