Jang Eun-su wins first KLPGA title in 10th season at Jeju Samdasoo Masters

Jang Eun-su, in her 10th season on the KLPGA Tour, claimed her first career victory Sunday in an emotional finish at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters.

Playing the final round at Teddy Valley Golf & Resort (par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Jang carded three birdies against no bogeys to close with a total of 14 under par, 274. The event carried a purse of 1 billion won ($705,000).

Jang edged joint runners-up Kang Chae-yeon and Moon Jung-min — both at 13 under par, 275 — by a single stroke to lift the trophy. Her winner's check came to 180 million won.

It was Jang's first win in her 187th start on the regular tour. The 2017 Rookie of the Year had also served on the national team reserve squad and the national team itself, but lost her regular-tour card three times after the 2020 season and was forced to compete on the second-tier Dream Tour.

Starting the final round one stroke behind Kang in a share of second place, Jang stayed locked in a tight battle until the very last hole. The two were level through the 15th before Jang seized the outright lead at the par-4 16th — the toughest hole of the week, averaging 4.36 strokes through three rounds. She stuck her second shot to within 3 meters of the cup and converted the birdie.

At the par-3 17th she missed the green but saved par by chipping to within 1.2 meters and holing the putt. At the par-4 18th, her tee shot drifted into a fairway bunker, and her utility-club second struck the top of the ball. The mishit flew low but found the green, and Jang two-putted to finish, breaking into tears of joy.

"When I lost my card again at the end of the 2024 season and went back down to the Dream Tour, I thought about quitting golf," Jang said. "But my coach gave me a stern talking-to, and I picked up my clubs again."

"Now I truly feel how much I love this game, and I want to keep playing for a long, long time," she added.

Kang, who had held the outright lead through three rounds and was paired with Jang in the final group, could not secure her first regular-tour win. Trailing by one stroke playing the 18th, she missed a 6.3-meter birdie putt that would have forced a playoff.

Moon also made a strong charge, carding eight birdies against just one bogey, but could not claim her second career title following her victory at the Daebo Housed Open in September 2024.