"I like samgyeopsal": Thai golfer Phunchan, now immersed in life in Korea, heads toward the top of the KLPGA

*This content was translated by AI.

Jarawee Phunchan (27, Hanam Financial Group) secured her first career first-division tour victory on the KLPGA Tour, becoming the first Thai player to win on the KLPGA Tour.

On the 24th, in the final third round of the KLPGA Tour E1 Charity Open (total prize money 1 billion won) held at Perum Club (par 72) in Yeojju, Gyeonggi Province, Phunchan recorded three birdies and one bogey to shoot a 2-under-par 70. Finishing with a total of 10-under-par 206, Phunchan overtook Lee Yul-rin (23, Doosan Construction), who finished at 8-under-par 208, by two strokes to claim the title.

Phunchan is the first Thai player to win on the KLPGA regular tour. She is also the first player from the KLPGA International Qualifying Tournament to win on the KLPGA Tour.

Phunchan joined the KLPGA in 2024. Last year, she missed the cut in 8 out of 17 tournaments, nearly half, and fell to 92nd on the money list, losing her seed. She then climbed to 15th in the regular tour seed tournament to regain her playing rights for the 2026 season. This season, she passed the cut in all five tournaments, showing a transformed performance.

In this tournament, she displayed the most impressive performance since her debut. Starting in a tie for 10th after reducing her score by three strokes in the first round, Phunchan surged to sole first place by making five consecutive birdies in the second half of the second round. Although she finished the first half of the final day at even par, she showcased sharp putting on the 11th hole (par 4) and 12th hole (par 5) in the second half, securing consecutive birdies to take a two-stroke lead and ultimately achieve victory, pocketing the winning prize of 180 million won.

Speaking at the post-tournament press conference, Phunchan said, "I am proud. My driver wasn't hitting well, so I focused on my irons to overcome it. I was nervous but tried my best not to be, and that led to a good result." She added, "I am happy to be the first Thai player to win, and I hope this becomes another opportunity for other Thai players. I am enjoying life in Korea. I hope other players can also be given a chance."

Last year, there was a clear reason for her slump. It was due to the golf environment being too different from Thailand. "It was difficult to adapt to the differences in Korean grass and golf courses," she said, adding, "During the off-season, I identified my weaknesses and practiced them intensively, which led to good results this year."

Having secured her seed, Phunchan will be able to compete until 2028. "The win was unexpected, so I didn't make long-term plans. I am enjoying life in Korea so much that I think I might stay until 2028," she said. "I started in the U.S. first, but I recommend Thai players try both the LPGA and KLPGA and choose what suits them best. The KLPGA Tour suits me very well, and I love the culture, so I am happy."

Looking back, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the five consecutive birdies at the end of the previous day created a valuable victory. Phunchan said, "I didn't have any special mindset. There were many birdie opportunities, and I didn't get frustrated; I focused on my basic putting feel, and many birdies came out." Regarding the situation of being chased from first place, she explained, "I had no pressure. I couldn't see the leaderboard, so I didn't know my ranking or that I was being chased. I focused only on my group. I did make some bogeys, but the E1 Charity course is so difficult that it's a natural occurrence, so I thought about shaking it off and moving on."

"The food suits me very well. After the tournament, I gain strength by eating Korean food. I like samgyeopsal," Phunchan expressed satisfaction with life in Korea. She added, "My goal is to win more. I think this tournament will give me momentum. I will aim for that throughout the season."

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*This content was translated by AI.