[2021 New Start⑥] ‘Korea-Japan Tour Concurrent’ Jeong Jae-eun "Let's Meet Often This Year"

Doha Asian Games Gold Medalist Passes KLPGA Tour Qualifying 32nd: "I Will Definitely Bring News of Victory" Ambition

Jung Jae-eun is determined to "definitely deliver news of a victory this year while balancing tours in both Korea and Japan."

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "I have to win this year."

This is the determination of the ‘beauty golfer’ Jung Jae-eun (32). In the 2021 season, she plans to appear not only on her main stage, the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour, but also on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 9th, she explained, "Last year, I did not have a KLPGA Tour card, so I could only participate in tournaments as an invited player," adding, "This year, I passed the domestic qualifying tournament, so I have created conditions where I can play anytime I want."

Jung Jae-eun is a player who showed potential early on, winning the 2003 Australia Junior Championship. In 2006, she was first selected as a national team member and won a gold medal in the team event at the Doha Asian Games in Qatar alongside Yoo So-yeon and Choi Hye-yong (both 31, Mediheal). Since she started playing on the KLPGA Tour in 2007, sponsors such as Hana Financial Group, KB Financial Group, and BC Card have supported her. She was active domestically until 2014, but it is notable that she never won a tournament during that time.

She placed 2nd in the Korea Women's Open (2007), 4th (2010), 3rd in the Lotte Mart Women’s Open (2011), and 5th in the Seoul Economic Open (2012), but she could not overcome the final hurdle. From 2015, she began to play concurrently on the JLPGA Tour, and at the end of 2016, she experienced the pain of failing the KLPGA Tour qualifying tournament. Her honest answer was, "I even thought about quitting sports." That year, she ranked 12th in the JLPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT) and officially started her life in Japan.

She also succeeded in smoothly settling into the JLPGA Tour. Including 2nd place finishes at the Konica Minolta Cup and Bridgestone Ladies Open, she entered the ‘Top 10’ fifteen times. Even while playing on the Japanese tour, she had a thirst for the domestic stage. In November last year, she placed 32nd in the regular tour qualifying tournament, creating a path to compete in both tours. Jung Jae-eun, who said, "I earned the right to participate in the domestic tour for the first time in four years," expressed, "I am happy to be able to participate in more tournaments this year," and added, "I will show the know-how I have accumulated so far."

This year, she will appear in Japan with the QT ranking of 33rd. First, she is preparing for the 2021 season opener, the Daikin Orchid Ladies, which will kick off on the 4th of next month in Okinawa, Japan. She built her body through weight training and Pilates in Korea. In Japan, she will continue more intense practical rounds. She said, "I will fix my disrupted swing and practice the short game a lot," and expressed her determination, "I want to win quickly in both Korea and Japan."