Home > Sports > Golf

KLPGA Tour buzzes with emergence of young prospect Kim Seo-ah

Published: 06 Apr. 2026, 17:00

Kim Seo-ah, who finished tied for fourth after aiming for a top-30 result, is seen during the Siena Open, the opening event of the 2026 KLPGA Tour season, in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on April 5. [KO BONG-JUN]

YEOJU, Gyeonggi — The KLPGA Tour, which has just begun its season, is buzzing with the emergence of a young prospect.

The player at the center of attention is 14-year-old amateur Kim Seo-ah, who delivered a performance that stood out even in a professional field and offered an early indication of her potential in Korean women’s golf.

Kim closed the final round of the Siena Open at the Siena Velluto in Yeoju on Sunday with one birdie and two bogeys, finishing one over for the day. She did not add to her score in the final round, but her four-day total of 9-under 279 secured a tie for fourth place. Competing on a sponsor’s invitation, she finished near the top of a 120-player field.

Kim remains relatively unknown to the broader public. She has yet to record a notable finish in international competition and has only recently begun to build a profile domestically.

Within the industry, however, word of her talent has already spread.

“Young players usually use junior clubs provided by major equipment companies, and their potential naturally spreads by word of mouth during testing. [Kim] was one of those cases,” said Lee Sung-hwan, the CEO of SeMA Sports Marketing, which manages Kim.

“We heard about her and moved quickly to sign her,” the executive added.

Kim Seo-ah tees off on the 10th hole during the first round of the 2026 KLPGA Siena Open at the Siena Velluto Country Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on April 2. [KLPGA]

Kim's defining strength is distance off the tee. She averaged 265 yards during the tournament and reached as far as 290 yards on her longest drives. For context, the current KLPGA season leader in average driving distance, Kim Min-sol, sits at 271 yards. At 171 centimeters (5 feet and 7 inches), Kim Seo-ah’s frame is still slight, but she generates power through strong rotational speed in her swing.

She first picked up a golf club in fifth grade at her grandmother’s suggestion.

“I found my current swing during winter training before entering sixth grade,” she said. “I looked up to Bang Shin-sil and practiced long drives consistently. As my distance increased, the game became more fun.”

She added, “I received many messages from friends, saying they were watching me on TV. Playing in this tournament made me realize that I need to improve my putting and approach shots, so I will work on those.”

Her performance also brought renewed attention to the KLPGA’s history of young standouts. She briefly threatened to challenge the tour’s youngest winner record, set by LPGA legend Pak Se-ri in 1992 at 14 years, 11 months and 29 days.

Ko Ji-won kisses the trophy after securing victory at the 2026 KLPGA Siena Open at the Siena Velluto Country Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on April 5. [KLPGA]

While Kim Seo-ah drew much of the spotlight, Ko Ji-won secured the victory on Sunday.

Ko finished at 13 under par, holding off Seo Kyo-rim by one stroke. On the par-4 18th hole, she calmly made par to protect her lead and claim her third career title. The win earned her 180 million won ($120,000) in prize money.

Rookie Yang Hyo-jin placed third at 10-under, while invitee Park Sung-hyun finished tied for 13th at 5-under.

Ko led the tournament from start to finish and recorded a hole-in-one during the third round. The final stretch tested her composure.

“I felt more nervous than usual because a wire-to-wire win was on the line,” Ko said. “I’m especially happy because my previous two wins came in my hometown Jeju, and this is my first victory on the mainland.”

“Now I have the same number of wins as my older sister [Ko Ji-woo]. It feels good, but I believe all my wins are thanks to her. In that sense, I think she actually has six wins,” she added.

“Still, I think this will motivate her, and we’ll continue to compete in a positive way.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KO BONG-JUN [[email protected]]