The beautiful challenge of Lee Seung-min (26. Hana Financial Group) continues in the 2023 season.
Lee Seung-min, who was the first person with autism developmental disorder grade 3 to qualify as a KPGA tour pro in 2017, became the first champion of the US Adaptive Open hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) last year. By winning the ‘US Adaptive Open’, Lee Seung-min greatly moved the Korean people and golf fans and provided an opportunity to change the perception of autism developmental disorder.
Lee Seung-min said, “Winning the ‘US Adaptive Open’ was a really happy moment in his life. The driving force behind the victory was the experience accumulated on the KPGA Korean Tour,” he said. “I sincerely thank the KPGA Korean Tour’s title sponsor, KPGA employees and fellow players for giving me valuable opportunities to participate.”
Lee Seung-min’s first goal in 2023 is to defend the title of ‘US Adaptive Open’.
Lee Seung-min said, “I am nervous and excited to participate as the defending champion. It seems that the interest will grow more than the invitational competition, and the players are expected to prepare a lot,” he said.
He continued, “We expect that a new golf event will be established at the ‘Paris Paralympic Games’ in 2024. If I can participate, I will challenge the ‘first champion’,” he said. “I want to do my best by participating in any competition to improve awareness and raise interest in developmental disabilities.”
In addition, Lee Seung-min passes the 4th cut of his personal career regular tour and challenges to break the KPGA Korean Tour record.
Lee Seung-min passed the cut at the ’14th DB Insurance Promy Open’ in 2018, the China Tour ‘Shenzhou Peninsula Open’ in 2019, and the ‘SK Telecom Open’ in 2022, and has a total of three cut passes in his personal career. Lee Seung-min, who has participated in the KPGA Korean Tour a total of 22 times since 2017, ranked 62nd at the 14th DB Insurance Promi Open in 2018.
Lee Seung-min, who recorded a tie for 83rd in the ‘KPGA Korean Tour QT’ last year, is on the waiting list for this season. That’s why this year’s KPGA Korean Tour’s Monday qualifiers (Monday) plan to participate unconditionally.
Lee Seung-min said, “If I am given a chance to participate in the KPGA Korean Tour, I want to succeed in passing the cut and renew my personal best score. The KPGA Korean Tour has always been a ‘dream stage’ for me,” he said. “Currently, I am training in Thailand. He focuses on wedge shots and iron shots for a sophisticated short game. We will make more efforts to have a high level of competitiveness.” 온라인바카라
Meanwhile, Lee Seung-min’s activities to improve awareness of autistic developmental disabilities will continue.
Lee Seung-min said, “I felt that the perception of his autistic developmental disorder was changing a lot by winning the ‘US Adaptive Open’. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the companies that sponsor golf for the disabled” and “This year, we participated in the ‘Love, Hana, Autism Race’ sponsored by the Hana Bank Lina Heyday Foundation, and the ‘SK Telecom Adaptive Open’ hosted by SK Telecom, to help people with autism development disabilities. We will work harder to improve social awareness.”
He continued, “Last year, I heard from Choi Kyung-ju that ‘every time I record a birdie, I make a donation.’ Since then, whenever I record an eagle or a birdie, I have been steadily collecting 20,000 won and 10,000 won in my piggy bank, respectively.” I will become a ‘Lee Seung-min’ who is a good golfer and can convey dreams and hopes.”
Lee Seung-min will make his first appearance in the new year by winning the right to participate in the Thai golf tour ‘Singhai Isan Open’ held at the Khon Kaen Golf Club in Thailand for four days from the 23rd of next month as a recommended player.