'First Jump Tour Win of a Lifetime' Jo Yi-ryeong: "Aiming for Full KLPGA Membership... Long-term Goal is Overseas Stage"

*This content was translated by AI.

Jo Yi-ryeong (24) broke six years of silence by claiming her first-ever victory on the KLPGA Jump Tour.

On the 15th, Jo finished with a total score of 8-under par 136 strokes in the final round of the 'KLPGA 2026 Grand CC · Samda In Hong-sam-bol Jump Tour 15th Event (Total Prize Money: 30 million won; Winner's Prize: 4.5 million won)' held at Cheongju Grand Country Club (Par 72) South and West Courses in Cheongju, Chungbuk. She tied with Ahn Ju-young (19) before ultimately securing the title after an extra hole playoff.

Jo started strong with a 5-under par 67 in the first round to take the lead. In the final round, she shot a 3-under par 69 with one bogey and four birdies. In the first extra hole at the 18th, Jo hit her driver tee shot, then played a wedge from 104 yards that landed near the pin and rolled to within 4.5 meters. She calmly two-putted for par. Meanwhile, Ahn made a bogey, sealing the outcome in Jo's favor.

According to KLPGA, Jo Yi-ryeong said, "It feels like a dream, and I'm so happy. My years of heartfelt efforts have finally been rewarded with my first win." She added, "Even though it was my first playoff, I felt proud just for reaching that stage. That mindset allowed me to focus entirely on my shots."

After joining as a provisional member in 2021, Jo failed to achieve full membership for nearly six years until this season when she made a bold decision. She moved into lodging near the driving range with her father and deleted all social media accounts to dedicate herself solely to training. Jo reflected, "The hardest times were when I practiced but saw no results."

Technical improvements also proved effective. Jo explained, "After each previous event, I practiced 500 putts daily while wearing gloves, which helped me control direction and capitalize on birdie opportunities within about 5 meters. Additionally, training with a stick attached to my waist belt improved my upper-lower body timing, increasing my driver distance by 5–10 meters."

She continued, "My strengths lie in precise second shots and high green-in-regulation accuracy. My top priority this season is securing full KLPGA membership. After that, I plan to gradually challenge Dream Tour, KLPGA regular tour, and eventually the overseas stage."

Finally, she expressed gratitude: "I thank my father, who has dedicated himself as both manager and coach, my family, KLPGA for organizing the tournament, and all our sponsors."

Meanwhile, amateur Kang Bi-ju (19) finished solo third with a 7-under par 137, while Park Chae-eun B (18) tied for fourth alongside Lee Ji-ho (19) and Pyo Song-hyun (18) with a 6-under par 138.

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*This content was translated by AI.