Mundo-yeop had a strong start in the men's golf competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Sung-hyun also placed well, setting the stage for a medal chase.
On September 30, at the Kasugai Country Club's East Course in Aichi, Japan, Mundo-yeop recorded a 4-under 66 with four birdies and no bogeys in the first round of the tournament.
He is tied for third place, just one stroke behind Wang Wei-shan of Taiwan and Kazuaki Higa of Japan, who both shot 5-under 65.
Mundo-yeop made his first birdie on the 6th hole (par 4) and continued to lower his score with birdies on the 13th hole (par 5), 15th hole (par 3), and 16th hole (par 4) in the second half.
Kim Joo-hyung, who recently participated in the Presidents Cup, finished with a 3-under 67, including five birdies and two bogeys, placing him tied for 7th alongside Ding Wen-yi of China.
Despite not fully adjusting to the time difference after traveling from the U.S. to Japan, Kim Joo-hyung maintained focus, recording birdies on the 2nd and 9th holes (both par 4), and adding more on the 13th, 15th, and 16th holes. A bogey on the 17th hole (par 4) was a minor setback, but he remains just two strokes off the lead.
Kim Sung-hyun also performed well, scoring 2-under 68 with one eagle, three birdies, and three bogeys, placing him tied for 9th. All three Korean players finished the first day in the top 10.
The outlook for the team event is promising as well. In the team competition, which combines the scores of the top two players from each country, Korea's total of 7-under 133, from Mundo-yeop's 4-under and Kim Joo-hyung's 3-under, puts them in a tie for second place with China, two strokes behind Japan, who leads with a combined score of 9-under 131.
Korea's men's golf team, which won the gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, is aiming for a second consecutive title in this competition.
The tournament features 65 players competing over four days in a 72-hole stroke play format, with the second round scheduled for October 1 at the same venue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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