Oh Seung-taek captured his first career victory on the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Tour at the 2026 KPGA Founders Cup, a dramatic come-from-behind win at an event with a 700 million KRW purse (approximately $525,000).
On the final day, May 10, at the par-72 Kyle Phillips Course at Golfzon County Yeongam45, Oh put together a bogey-free, five-birdie 5-under 67 in the fourth round to finish at 12-under 276 and lift the trophy. The title came in his 49th KPGA start.
Oh opened the tournament with a 4-under in round one to sit T-12, then improved two strokes in round two to move into a tie for the lead at 4-under. A third-round slip left him tied for fifth, but his five-under final round secured the win.
After two wins on the KPGA Challenge Tour in 2020, Oh debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2021. Through the end of the 2024 season he had entered 27 events without a single top-10. He broke through in 2025 with a T-10 at the Woori Financial Championship in April — his first top-10 — then posted a career-best T-6 at the Donga Membership Group Open in August and added a T-9 at the Golfzon Open, finishing the season with three top-10s.
As an amateur, Oh represented South Korea at the 2018 Jakarta–Palembang Asian Games, earning a silver medal in the individual event and a bronze in the team competition.
Starting the final round three shots back of leader Jung Chan-min and tied for fifth, Oh ignited his charge with a birdie at the 1st hole (par-4). After pars through No. 5, he rolled in consecutive birdies at the 6th (par-5) and 7th (par-4) to thrust himself into contention.
On the back nine, Oh played steady golf through the 12th, then rattled off birdies at the 13th (par-4) and 14th (par-3) to seize the lead. He held firm with pars down the stretch and closed out a one-stroke victory.
Jung, who began the day atop the leaderboard, started shakily with a bogey at the 4th (par-4) and a double bogey at the 5th (par-3), dropping from the lead. He responded with birdies at the 6th (par-5) and 7th (par-4) to get back into the mix.
Jung’s comeback peaked at No. 15 (par-5), where he canned an approximately 9-meter (about 30-foot) eagle putt to cut the deficit to one and force a late duel. He parred the remaining holes, however, and finished one shot behind.
“I always wondered if I was the kind of player who could win,” Oh said. “I lost my tour card after turning pro, and I also served in the military. After my service, I focused on staying positive and convincing myself I could do it. I’m so happy that it paid off. The first people I want to share this with are my parents.”
Asked about the toughest stretch before this breakthrough and how he overcame it, Oh said, “After earning the Asian Games silver and turning pro, I thought the road ahead would be easy, but it wasn’t. Watching peers succeed overseas made me wonder if my medal had been luck. In the military I decided to change something about myself before returning. The service strengthened my mental game and broadened my perspective, which has really helped in competition.”
Looking ahead, Oh added, “I don’t want to be a one-time winner and disappear. I want to be consistently strong. The Genesis Award is a goal, and ultimately I’d like to play on the U.S. PGA Tour.”
Jung closed with an eagle, two birdies, a double bogey and a bogey for a 1-under 71, finishing at 11-under 277 and taking second place. He had been seeking his first win since the Golfzon-Doray Open in November 2023 but came up one shot short.
Shin Sang-hoon moved up one stroke to finish third at 9-under 279; Jeong Jae-hyun slipped one to finish fourth at 8-under 280; and Kang Kyung-nam climbed one to take fifth at 7-under 281.
Defending champion Moon Do-yeop shot 1-over and finished at 6-under 282, tying for sixth alongside this season’s opener winner Lee Sang-yeop of the DB Insurance Pro-Am Open and others.
Golf reporter Oh Hak-yeol kungkung5@viva100.com
