18-year-old Yang Yun-seo, runner-up at the Korea Women's Open, and Son Jey, who has won four amateur titles, in a tight race for golf's first-ever Star Award [2026 Futures Star Awards]

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Yang Yun-seo (18, Incheon Girls' High School Affiliated Broadcasting and Communication High School, Samchully) and Son Jey (16, Dongrae High School Affiliated Broadcasting and Communication High School) are in a tight competition for the "Star Award" in the golf category of the 2026 Futures Star Awards. Yang finished as runner-up at the Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open, overcoming formidable senior players, and played an active role at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as a national team member. Son has won four amateur tournaments and holds an overwhelming first place in the Korea Golf Association (KGA) men's rankings.

The ceremony for the "2026 Futures Star Awards," now in its fifth year (hosted and organized by StarNews, sponsored by the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee, National Sports Promotion Foundation, Korea Baseball & Softball Federation, Korea Basketball Association, Korea Volleyball Association, and Korea Sports Leisure Co., Ltd.), will be held at 3 p.m. on the 26th in the press conference room on the 19th floor of the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The recipient of the newly established golf category Star Award this year is expected to be one of two high school stars, a male and a female player.

Yang Yun-seo, who performed brilliantly as a national team member, achieved the first victory for a Korean player at the Asia-Pacific Pyongyang Women's Amateur Championship (WAAP) last February and also topped the Club D Amateur Eco Championship held in June. She maintained the number one spot in the Korea Golf Association (KGA) women's rankings until the 19th.

Even more notable is that she demonstrated clear competitiveness against professional seniors. Yang Yun-seo, who boasts explosive distance using her tall stature of 174 cm and a large arc that leverages this advantage, narrowly secured second place in a playoff against Kim Min-sol, who was displaying overwhelming skill, at the Mercedes-Benz 40th Korea Women's Open last June, earning Best Amateur Chu Eo-sang-eul (수상). In September, she placed fourth tie at the Hana Financial Group Championship on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour. She ranked first among amateurs in all three regular tour events she entered.

Furthermore, she confirmed her potential by competing on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour as an invited player. She recorded a tied 38th place at the Chevron Championship, a major event last April, finishing as the top amateur tie, and placed 41st tie at the Amundi Evian Championship, another major event in July. She also successfully made the cut at the AIG Women's Open held in July.

At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where she competed wearing the national team emblem, she placed fourth in both the individual and team events. Although she narrowly missed a medal, it was a stage that widely publicized the value of high school golfer Yang Yun-seo.

Son Jey, who is running an overwhelming first place in the KGA men's rankings, also displayed exceptional skill this season.

Starting with the Taiwan Amateur Championship last March, followed by the Asia-Pacific Pyongyang Junior Championship in June, the Songam Cup Amateur Golf Championship in August, and the Heo Jung-gu Cup Korean Amateur Golf Championship in September, he swept all four titles.

He did not fall behind in competition against formidable seniors either. Last April, he competed in the DB Insurance Promy Open, the opening event of the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Tour, recording under par for all four days to finish a confident tied fifth with 15-under-par 273 strokes.

■ Date: October 26, 2026 (Mon), 3 p.m.

■ Location: Press Conference Room, 19th Floor, Korea Press Center (124 Sejong University-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul)

■ Recipients: Baseball/Soccer/Volleyball/Basketball/Golf/Skateboarding/Artistic Gymnastics, a total of 10 people across 7 sports (2 Grand Prizes, 6 Star Awards, 2 Future Star Awards)

■ Selection Committee Members

Kim In-sik, former national team manager (Seon Jeong-wi (Director)), Cha Myung-ju, official Gi Ryeok-hyang-sang (Chairman) of the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), Jung Min-hyuk, head of the scouting team for the Hanwha Eagles, Kwon Do-young, section chief of the scouting team for the Kiwoom Heroes

Han Jun-hee, commentator for Coupang Play, Son Seung-jun, full-time instructor for the Korea Football Association, Kwon Oh-gyu, technical director for Bucheon FC, Jung Jae-yoon, scout for Jeonbuk Hyundai

■ Host/Organizer: StarNews

■ Sponsors: Korean Sports & Olympic Committee, National Sports Promotion Foundation, Korea Baseball & Softball Federation, Korea Basketball Association, Korea Volleyball Association, Korea Sports Leisure Co., Ltd., Palseok Mijin

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original