Shin Dong-seok, 65, and Ahn Jung-young, 52, won the men's and women's divisions, respectively, at Korea's first-ever professional park golf tournament. The two players will be remembered as the first official champions in Korean professional park golf history.
At the "2026 KPPGA Samcheok Open with High1" (par 66), held Saturday at Dogye Park Golf Course in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Shin reached the top with a two-round total of 111 strokes, while Ahn finished first with 117 strokes.
Shin is a former physical education teacher who took up park golf after retirement, beginning a new second chapter in his life. He challenged for professional status just one year after taking up the sport and succeeded. After obtaining his professional qualification, he became even stricter with himself. He visited the field more than four times a week and combined physical training to prepare for his first professional tournament. "After becoming a professional, I tried to build my competitiveness through consistent practice and physical conditioning," Shin said. "It is all the more meaningful and joyful that my efforts so far have led to victory at Korea's first professional tournament."
Ahn is a former professional of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA). After shooting 60 strokes in the qualifying round to advance to the finals in third place, she completed a come-from-behind victory by recording 57 strokes in the final. While working as a golf instructor, Ahn saw the growth potential of park golf and challenged the second professional test in May this year, passing it. "I challenged for professional status because I want to become a specialized instructor teaching seniors in line with our super-aged society," she said. "Letting go of the obsession with winning and focusing on my own play led to a good result."
Meanwhile, a total of 211 players competed in the tournament. After the qualifying rounds, 49 men and 20 women advanced to the finals. The men's division winner received 20 million won in prize money, while the women's division winner received 10 million won.
