Rookie Jang Heemin "Wins in Just 2 Tournaments"... Lee Sanghee and Kim Mingyu Tie for 2nd Place (Summary)

Inaugural Woori Financial Championship: 260 Million Won Jackpot with 4-Stroke Victory, Park Sang-hyun and Ham Jeong-woo Tied for 4th Place

Rookie Jang Heemin is cheering immediately after winning the Woori Financial Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Rookie Jang Hee-min (20, Jivent) achieved his first career victory.

On the 15th, at Ferrum Golf Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 7,216 yards), the newly established Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour event, Woori Financial Championship (total prize money 1.3 billion KRW), concluded with Jang adding a 1-under-par on the final day to complete a commanding 4-stroke victory (5-under-par 283). Making his debut on the Korean Tour this year, he reached the top in just his second tournament, earning a winner's prize of 260 million KRW. Winning in only his second tournament appearance is the second time since Kim Joo-hyung (20, CJ Logistics) at the 2020 KPGA Gunsan CC Open.

Jang Hee-min started the final round with a one-stroke lead, recording five birdies and four bogeys. After a bogey on the 3rd hole (par 3), he recovered with a birdie on the 6th hole (par 4), but was briefly shaken by consecutive bogeys on the 8th and 9th holes. However, he changed the momentum with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 10th and 12th holes, and after a bogey on the 14th hole (par 3), he pulled away from his competitors with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. On the 17th hole (par 4), his tee shot pushed right, presenting a challenge, but he calmly laid up and saved par.

Jang Hee-min is a rookie who just joined the Korean Tour this year. He secured his regular tour card by finishing tied for 10th in the Qualifying Tournament (QT). He studied golf in the UK from middle school 2nd grade through high school 3rd grade and has experience playing on the European third-tier tour. Last month, he played his first professional tournament at the DB Insurance Promy Open, where he recorded seven birdies without a bogey in the second round. He finished tied for 17th in the DB Insurance event.

"I still can't believe I won," said Jang Hee-min. "Focusing only on what I had to do led to the victory," he cheered. "In the back nine, I played safely." He added, "I practiced rounds with Im Sung-jae (24, CJ Logistics) and learned a lot." "My goal this year was to maintain my tour card, which I have already achieved," he emphasized. "My ultimate dream as a golfer is to join the PGA Tour," he said with determination.

Sanghyun Park is teeing off at the 1st hole on the final day of the Woori Financial Championship. Photo by KPGA

Lee Sang-hee (30, Mugunghwa Trust) posted a daily best 3-under-par to jump to a tie for 2nd place (1-under-par 287). Kim Min-gyu (21, CJ Logistics) lost two strokes and failed to claim his first career victory, settling for his fourth runner-up finish. 'DB Insurance Champ' Park Sang-hyun (39, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) shot 2-under-par to finish tied for 4th place (even par 288). Ham Jung-woo (28, Hana Financial Group), Ok Tae-hoon (24, Geumgang Housing), and Ma Kwan-woo (32, Man in Jungle) are also in this group.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.