Former National Team Player SUNG Ajin Wins First Professional Title with Playoff Birdie

[THE CAPTURE=Kang Byeong-koo] Former Korean national team member SUNG Ajin (19, HiteJinro) captured the first professional victory of her career after prevailing in a dramatic playoff during her KLPGA Jump Tour debut.

Competing at Baekje Country Club in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do, SUNG finished the KLPGA 2026 Jeju Airport Rent-a-Car·Baekje CC Jump Tour 1st Event with a total score of 4-under-par 140, tying Park Hayeon before advancing to a playoff.

The championship was decided on the very first extra hole.

Returning to the 18th hole, SUNG faced an approach shot from 112 yards and struck it brilliantly to within three meters of the pin on the left side of the green. She then calmly converted the birdie putt to secure victory, while Park settled for par and finished as runner-up.

The final round did not begin smoothly for SUNG. A double bogey on the 2nd hole briefly put her behind the leaders. However, she responded immediately and showed the resilience that had made her one of Korea’s top amateur players.

Beginning with a birdie on the 3rd hole, SUNG ignited her charge with three consecutive birdies on holes 3, 4, and 5. The momentum shift helped her move back into contention, and she maintained her focus throughout the remainder of the round.

After securing the victory, SUNG shared her excitement.

“I’m incredibly happy to win the first tournament I played after becoming a professional,” she said. “It made me realize that all the hard work and practice were worthwhile, and it has given me even more motivation moving forward.”

She added, “Rather than feeling nervous during the playoff, I was excited. I wanted to enjoy the experience and treat it as something new, and fortunately it led to a great result.”

SUNG represented Korea as a national team player in 2025 and entered the professional ranks with high expectations. By winning in her very first Jump Tour appearance, she added her name to a distinguished list of players who captured victory in their debut event.

That list includes some of the KLPGA Tour’s biggest stars, such as KO Jinyoung, LEE Yewon, and SUNG Yujin, making the achievement an especially meaningful milestone in her young career.

With her first professional title already secured, SUNG Ajin has taken a major step toward establishing herself as one of the rising stars of Korean women’s golf.