Jang Eun-soo celebrated her first victory on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour after a decade since her debut.
On August 9, at the Teddy Valley Golf & Resort in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Jang shot a 3-under-par 69 in the final round of the KLPGA Tour Jeju Samdasoo Masters, finishing with three birdies and no bogeys.
With a total score of 14-under 274, Jang edged out Kang Chae-yeon and Moon Jeong-min, who both finished at 13-under 275, by one stroke. This marks her first win after participating in 187 tournaments.
Jang's victory earned her a prize of 180 million won, elevating her to ninth place in the season's prize money rankings and sixteenth in the Player of the Year points.
A former national team player, Jang debuted on the KLPGA regular tour in 2017, winning the Rookie of the Year award that same year. However, she faced a prolonged slump, even losing her regular tour card at one point. She spent three seasons on the second-tier Dream Tour, experiencing relegation and promotion.
Despite these challenges, Jang persevered. Last year, she ranked seventh in the Dream Tour prize money standings, successfully returning to the regular tour. This season, she has shown improved consistency, finishing as the runner-up at the Inka Financial The Heaven Masters in June, which helped her break a decade-long winless streak in Jeju.
Starting the final round tied for second place, one stroke behind the leader, Jang ignited her title bid with a birdie on the par-3 third hole. She remained tied with Kang Chae-yeon until the fifteenth hole, where she made a birdie putt on the par-4 sixteenth to take the lead.
Jang handled late pressure calmly. After her tee shot on the par-3 seventeenth hole went off the green, she executed a precise approach shot to save par from 1.2 meters. On the par-4 eighteenth hole, she faced a significant challenge when her tee shot landed in the right fairway bunker. However, she maintained her composure, recording a two-putt par to secure her victory.
In a post-victory interview, Jang expressed gratitude, saying, "My caddy advised me to 'clear my mind,' which was a great help. I tried to relax, but it was difficult, so I decided to just play as I was. I want to thank my parents for always supporting me. Dad, I won!" as she shed tears.
Meanwhile, rookie Kang Chae-yeon, who participated in the tournament as an alternate from the second-tier tour, finished tied for second with Moon Jeong-min at a total of 13-under 275.
Kim Min-joo and Seo Eon-jin tied for fourth place with a total score of 12-under 276.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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