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| Jung Jae-hyun / Photo: KPGA |
Over the two-day event March 26–27 at the Lago Course of Solago CC in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do (par 71, 7,286 yards), Jung opened with a bogey-free 6-under 65, carding six birdies to sit alone in second, one shot off the lead.
He carried that form into the final round. Jung birdied the par-4 third and added a birdie at the par-5 sixth to go 2 under through the front nine. He then rolled in consecutive birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 and added birdies at 13, 15 and the par-5 17th, shooting 7 under for the day to finish at 13 under 129 — a five-shot victory over runner-up Kim Hyun-wook (22, NH Nonghyup Bank).
After the win Jung said, \"I'm thrilled to get a victory so early in the season. It gives me a big boost of confidence as I prepare to return to the KPGA Tour. First and foremost, I want to thank my parents and my sister. I also owe thanks to Pro Lee Sang-hoon, Kim Du-sik at Play & Works, and Professor Park Young-min at Korea National Sport University.\"
He added that steady tee shots over the two days made the approaches easier and his putter stayed hot, a combination he believes powered the win.
Jung moved to the Philippines at age four and began playing golf there, winning several local amateur events including the Philippine Junior Amateur Open Match Play and the PAL-JGFP Championship. He returned to Korea at 16 and served on the national reserve squad from 2021–2022. In 2022 he also won the Jeollanam-do Golf Association President's Student Golf Tournament and the 21st Ganuda Cup Golf Journal Junior Tournament.
Jung turned pro as a KPGA associate in February 2023 and became a full KPGA tour pro in April 2023. He competed on the Challenge Tour, earned enough points to secure a 2024 KPGA Tour card, and made seven cuts in 15 starts in 2024 — including a tie for 12th at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open — but was unable to retain his card.
Last season on the Challenge Tour he played 13 events, claimed one victory (the 15th event) and notched four top-10 finishes, earning enough combined Challenge Tour points to secure a KPGA Tour card for the 2026 season.
Jung's objective this season is straightforward: play consistently and keep his KPGA Tour card through the Genesis points standings.
\"I felt my putting was lacking last year, so I focused on putting and the short game during preseason training,\" Jung said. \"In my rookie year I think the pressure got to me. Now I'm trying to let go of the extra pressure, play confidently and focus on my game. I'll give it my all with confidence.\"
Finishing behind Jung, Kim Hyun-wook closed as runner-up at 8 under 134, and Hwang Du-hyun (30, Jeil Spiral Co.) finished third at 7 under 135.
The 2026 KPGA Challenge Tour Round 3 is scheduled for April 7–8 at Gunsan CC (Jeonju and Iksan courses) in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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