21 Oct 2013

Korean youngster upstages stars in Perth

11:19 am on 21 October 2013

The 23-year-old Korean golfer Ji Jeong has landed his first professional title, recovering from a four-putt double bogey on the opening hole of the final round to win a sudden death playoff win over the experienced Englishman Ross Fisher at the Perth International.

Until Sunday the former world amateur number one was expecting to return to the second stage of qualifying school, but his unexpected victory has landed him nearly $400,000, entry into the $9 million World Golf Championship event in Shanghai at the end of this month, and he has a two-year exemption on the European Tour.

Jeong has been living in Australia since 2006.

The leading New Zealander, Gareth Paddison, tied for 18th, seven strokes behind the leading pair.