Slugger Choi Youngjun, Former Baseball Player, Wins Challenge Tour Title

8-Under Final Round at 8th KPGA Challenge Tour Event
Former National Reserve, Three Years in Baseball
2023 Driving Distance Leader, Aiming for Regular Tour Return Next Year

Choi Youngjun, who transitioned from a baseball player to a golfer, claimed his first victory on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Challenge (second-tier) Tour.

On June 18, at the Adel Scott Country Club (par 72, 7,013 yards) in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Choi surged to the top at the 8th Challenge Tour tournament (total prize money: 100 million won), shooting an 8-under-par 64 in the final second round to finish at 12-under-par 132. He received a winner’s prize of 20 million won. Starting the day tied for 16th, he carded one eagle and six birdies. Immediately after his win, Choi Youngjun said with a big smile, "Overall, my shots felt good today. There were moments when my tee shots were shaky, but I got lucky, like when my ball bounced off the cart path and came back in, so I was able to win."

Choi Youngjun is teeing off in the final second round of the 8th KPGA Challenge Tour tournament. Photo by KPGA

Choi Youngjun first learned golf at the age of eight but quit after two years to play baseball. He played as a Little League baseball player for three years before returning to golf at age 13, showing enough talent to be selected as a national reserve team member from 2020 to 2022. He debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2023 and ranked first in the driving distance category (319 yards), but could not retain his tour card due to poor performance and has mainly competed on the Challenge Tour since last year. His best KPGA Tour result is a tie for 10th at the Gunsan CC Open in 2023.

Choi Youngjun stated, "My goal this year is to achieve three wins on the Challenge Tour," and added, "I will continue to play consistently and secure my KPGA Tour card next year to make a comeback." Kim Byungjun and Chun Seunghee finished tied for second place at 11-under-par 133. The 9th KPGA Challenge Tour tournament will be held at the same venue over two days from June 19 to 20.