"All my efforts have not been in vain" — A perfect comeback after three years, Jeong Chan-min sets his sights on the U.S.: "I need to improve everything except distance and stamina" [KPGA]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Jeong Chan-min (27, CJ), the long-distance king who had been forgotten, captured the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Tour The Charity Classic (total prize money of 1 billion won) to secure his third career victory in three years.

In the final fourth round of the tournament held on the 18th at Seowon Valley Country Club's Valley and Seowon courses (par 72) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Jeong recorded one birdie, three bogeys, and one double bogey for a score of four over par, 76.

With a final total of 19 under par, 269, Jeong defeated Shin Sang-hoon, who finished at 18 under par, 270, by a margin of one stroke to claim a wire-to-wire victory.

He lifted the championship trophy for the first time in two years, 11 months, and 13 days since the Golfzon Tohopen Open on November 5, 2023.

Jeong debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2022 and rose rapidly based on his explosive driving distance. He lifted his first trophy at the GS Caltex Maeil Business Newspaper (MK) Open in May 2023 and also claimed the top spot at the Golfzon-Tohopen Open in November.

However, he has not been able to smile since then. In particular, he missed the cut multiple times in both 2024 and 2025.

This season, he wrote a story of reversal. He finished as runner-up at the KPGA Founders Cup in May last month and recorded another second-place finish at the Golfzon Open in September last month. All that remained was a victory.

Jeong added 28 million 3,889 won to his earnings along with 1,000 Genesis Points. With cumulative earnings of 550 million 726,770 won and 4,744.77 points, he surged to fourth place in the money list and second place in the Genesis Points standings.

The final round, which Jeong entered as the sole leader by four strokes, was far from easy. Bad weather persisted to the point where play was suspended.

Jeong recorded his first bogey on the eighth hole (par 3) and wavered by committing a double bogey on the 10th hole (par 4). Placed in crisis after bogeys on the 11th and 16th holes (both par 5), Jeong added a birdie on the 13th hole (par 3) and maintained his one-stroke lead to achieve the victory he had longed for.

He achieved victory in his most complete form in three years. Jeong stated, "Achieving a wire-to-wire win is not an easy feat, but accomplishing it at this tournament following the 2023 'GS Caltex Maeil Business Newspaper (MK) Open' shows me that I have worked hard enough." He added, "It feels like I have proven that my efforts in golf so far have not been wasted time. It is a good feeling to stand here again after a long time."

Jeong, who is aiming for a challenge on the U.S. tour, said, "My Genesis Points ranking rose significantly with this victory. So, my goal has shifted to winning the Genesis Player of the Year award. If I win the award, I plan to depart for the United States during the period when the second stage of the Q-School is being held. Even if I do not win the award, I plan to depart as scheduled on November 24 and participate in the second stage."

He was known as a player with exceptional driving distance and had achieved good results, but he remained without a title for the following three years. He realized that distance alone is not everything.

Jeong said, "I think I need to improve in every aspect. I believe I am still far from becoming a hexagonal player who excels in all areas. I want to improve overall because I feel that only then will I have a chance of success in the United States." He added, "Distance is not a problem, but it would be good if it went a bit farther. I think I need to improve everything except distance and stamina."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original