Reservist Shin Sanghoon Clinches Playoff Victory... Celebrates Third Career Win in Three Years

Defeats Chanmin Jeong at Golfzon Open
Clinches playoff win with birdie on second extra hole
Returns this season after completing military service

Reserve soldier Sanghoon Shin has achieved his third career victory.

On September 20 at Golfzon County Sunsan (par 71) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, during the fourth round of the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour Golfzon Open, which had a total prize fund of 1 billion won, Sanghoon Shin shot a 2-under-par 69 to tie with Chanmin Jung at 16-under-par 268. He then secured the victory with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff held on the 18th hole (par 5). This marks his third career win and comes three years after his last victory at the 2023 Players Championship. The winner’s prize is 200 million won.

After completing the 2023 season, Sanghoon Shin enlisted for active military service, resulting in a period away from the sport. He was discharged in June last year and returned to the KPGA this season, clinching his first win of the year in his 13th tournament of the season.

Sanghoon Shin is smiling brightly holding the trophy right after winning the Golfzon Open. Photo by KPGA

Sanghoon Shin began the final round tied for the lead with Chanmin Jung and managed to record two birdies without a single bogey. He made a birdie on the first hole (par 4), then continued a streak of pars for the next 15 holes, and reduced one more stroke with a birdie at the 17th hole (par 3) to force a playoff. Both players recorded pars on the first playoff hole at the 18th, before returning to the 18th for a second playoff, where the winner was decided.

In a post-victory interview, Sanghoon Shin said with a smile, “It didn’t feel real until the last putt dropped.” He added, “During my military service, I had a strong desire to compete again and felt frustrated by the wait. Being patient and making the most of those precious two years has led to today’s great result. There are still many tournaments left this year, so I think I’ll be able to win even more.”

With this victory, Sanghoon Shin climbed to second place in the Genesis Points rankings with 3,597.69 points. As of the end of the Golfzon Open, the top five in the Genesis Points standings receive automatic entry into the first stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School (Q-School). Sanghoon Shin will be able to participate in the second stage of the PGA Tour Q-School, scheduled for December, without having to compete in the first stage.

Jun Jaehan, Kim Chanwoo, Kim Youngsoo, and Hwang Doyeon tied for third place at 12-under-par 272. Song Minhyeok and Park Junseop finished tied for seventh at 11-under-par 273, while Kim Hongtaek, Choi Chan, Bae Yongjun, and Jung Jaehun were among those who finished in a tie for ninth at 10-under-par 274.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.