Former National Team Standout HONG Sumin Claims First Jump Tour Title After Playoff Battle

[THE CAPTURE=Kang Byeong-koo] Former Korean national team member HONG Sumin (19, KB Financial Group) captured the first professional victory of her career after prevailing in a dramatic playoff at the KLPGA Jump Tour.

Competing at Baekje Country Club in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do, HONG finished the KLPGA 2026 Jeju Airport Rent-a-Car·Baekje CC Jump Tour 2nd Event with a total score of 7-under-par 137, tying Yoo Seungeun before advancing to a sudden-death playoff.

The championship was decided on the very first extra hole at the 18th.

While Yoo recorded a bogey, HONG calmly holed a crucial seven-meter par putt to secure a dramatic victory and claim the first title of her professional career.

HONG had positioned herself among the leaders after firing a 5-under-par 67 in the opening round. Although she faced challenges during the middle portion of the final round, she demonstrated impressive resilience and focus down the stretch.

Birdies on the 16th and 18th holes proved especially important, allowing her to regain momentum and force the playoff.

Following the victory, HONG expressed both relief and excitement.

“I’m incredibly happy to win my first title sooner than I expected after turning professional,” she said. “Things didn’t go smoothly during the middle of the round, but I kept reminding myself not to give up and to stay focused until the very end.”

She also credited her previous playoff experience as an amateur.

“I experienced several playoffs during my amateur career, so I wasn’t overly nervous,” HONG explained. “I simply tried to stick to my own game, and that approach led to a positive result.”

HONG entered professional golf with high expectations. As a member of the Korean national team in 2025, she recorded several notable achievements, including a third-place finish at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP) and victory at the KB Financial Group Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.

After earning KLPGA associate membership in April, HONG wasted little time making an impact. Her first professional victory further confirmed her status as one of the most promising young talents in Korean women’s golf.