Jiho Yang took advantage of calmer afternoon conditions to seize the first-round lead in the KOLON Korea Open after carding a brilliant six-under-par 65 on Thursday at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

The Korean golfer moved ahead by one stroke over compatriot Yujun Jung, who settled alone in second place following a solid 66 in the seventh leg of the Asian Tour season. Several players also stayed within striking distance after the opening round of the tournament.

Sangmoon Bae, Chanmin Jung, Jinho Choi, Soomin Lee, Charlie Lindh, and Austen Truslow all finished tied for third after posting four-under-par 68s. Players who teed off in the morning battled persistent rain and colder temperatures, while the afternoon groups benefited from significantly improved playing conditions.

Yang recovers strongly

Yang endured a difficult beginning after opening his round with back-to-back bogeys on the back nine. However, the 37-year-old quickly recovered and found momentum with three consecutive birdies starting from the 13th hole.

He added another birdie on the 18th before dropping a shot on the first hole. Yang responded strongly down the stretch, making five birdies over his final six holes to cap one of the finest rounds of his career.

The two-time Korean PGA Tour winner credited improved weather conditions and mental composure for helping him recover from the shaky start. Yang also said the support of his wife continued to help him remain calm throughout tournaments.

Yujun Jung also emerged as one of the surprise performers of the day despite entering the tournament with only two top-10 finishes in nearly four years on the Korean PGA Tour. The Korean golfer produced a strong second nine to stay firmly in contention heading into Friday’s round.

Strong contenders emerge

Jung played a bogey-free front nine after making the turn at one-under-par. His strong finish included birdies on the second, third, fifth, and eighth holes to remain close to the lead.

Sweden’s Charlie Lindh said players in the afternoon session clearly benefited from more favourable conditions compared to those who played earlier in the day. Lindh added that improvements in his tee-to-green game have helped him feel more comfortable this season after years of working on swing adjustments.

Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent also impressed with a three-under-par 69 despite facing the tougher morning conditions. Vincent said he focused on accepting mistakes and avoiding costly errors throughout his round.

Meanwhile, South African Ian Snyman carded an even-par 72 alongside American Bubba Watson. Mexico’s Abraham Ancer finished one stroke further back with a 73, while defending champion Minkyu Kim struggled with a 74 and now faces a difficult road heading into the second round.