Jeong wins maiden title in Perth

23-year-old Jin Jeong took top honours at the ISPS HANDA Perth International, surviving a sudden-death playoff against England’s Ross Fisher to record his first victory as a Professional.

Finishing regulation play tied with Fisher at 10-under 278, it took just one playoff hole for Jeong to claim victory, sinking a par putt for the title.

“I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought,” said the Korean-born Jeong, who is based in Melbourne.

“Playing with Ross Fisher in the playoff, it was unbelievable. He’s one of my heroes.”

Starting one shot off the lead and opening with a double-bogey on the tricky Lake Karrinyup Country Club layout, Jeong showed composure to fight his way back into contention, finishing the day with a three-under-par 69.

“I just tried to calm myself down and focus on what I could do from there. I think I did a pretty good job after that,” he said.

Jeong, who has featured on the European Challenge Tour this season, had recently progressed through the First Stage of The European Tour Qualifying School, but now earns a two-year exemption to The European Tour.

“I was going to go back to Q‑School Second Stage, but I guess I don’t have to anymore.”

“It means a lot.  I was waiting for something like this for a long time. I was struggling quite a bit when I turned Pro.  I learned a lot from that and it showed up today,” added Jeong.

West Australian Brody Ninyette and Tour rookie Dimitrios Papadatos finished as leading Australians, tied third with Englishman Danny Willett with scores of 8-under 280.

www.pga.org.au/perth-international.

Complete Fourth Round Scores:

278 J Jeong (Kor) 68 72 69 69; R Fisher (Eng) 72 67 71 68;

280 D Willett  (Eng) 72 71 68 69; D Papadatos (Aus) 69 71 72 68; B Ninyette (Aus) 72 69 67 72;

281 B Rumford (Aus) 71 73 65 72;

282 J Hansen  (Den) 70 73 66 73; J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 73 67 71; R Finch  (Eng) 72 69 69 72;

283 P Hedblom (Swe) 68 69 75 71; F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 73 68 73;

284 J Younger (Aus) 70 70 73 71; J Nitties (Aus) 68 73 69 74; R Haller (Aus) 72 70 74 68; S Hansen (Den) 71 69 72 72; D Johnson (USA) 69 74 75 66; E Kofstad (Nor) 71 73 72 68;

285 F Zanotti (Par) 75 68 72 70; D McKenzie (Aus) 75 68 71 71; M Hoey  (Nir) 73 69 69 74; G Paddison (Nzl) 74 69 71 71; M Fraser (Aus) 72 70 71 72; B Van Pelt (USA) 70 71 71 73; D Popovic (Aus) 72 74 69 70; O Fisher  (Eng) 72 72 69 72; J Walters (RSA) 76 69 73 67; P Lawrie (Irl) 73 70 72 70;

286 W Ormsby (Aus) 73 72 71 70; N Cullen (Aus) 69 73 71 73; C Lee (Sco) 73 71 72 70; J Scrivener (Aus) 75 67 68 76; N O’Hern (Aus) 69 73 72 72; A Kaleka  (Fra) 74 69 72 71;

287 A Bland (Aus) 72 72 73 70; R Blizard (Aus) 70 74 72 71;

288 R Bland (Eng) 75 71 72 70; M Brown (Nzl) 70 72 74 72; C Campbell (Aus) 71 71 73 73; R McEvoy  (Eng) 76 70 73 69; S Henry  (Sco) 74 72 70 72; C Doak (Sco) 72 73 72 71; G Havret  (Fra) 73 73 73 69;

289 J Morrison  (Eng) 73 72 73 71; T Bond (Aus) 71 73 74 71; S Jones (Aus) 74 72 71 72; P Spargo (Aus) 72 71 73 73; T Cox (Aus) 75 70 72 72; S Kjeldsen (Den) 76 68 73 72; B Grace  (RSA) 73 73 69 74;

290 S Dartnall (Aus) 74 71 72 73;

291 J Wade (Aus) 76 70 74 71; M Korhonen (Fin) 73 71 72 75; J McLean (Aus) 76 68 73 74; M Tullo (Chi) 75 71 75 70; D Bransdon (Aus) 71 73 74 73;

292 D Drysdale (Sco) 72 74 75 71; S Little (Eng) 69 75 71 77; C Rice (Aus) 68 72 75 77; D Higgins (Irl) 73 72 74 73; C Parry (Aus) 72 74 74 72; A Brown (Aus) 70 75 76 71;

293 B Åkesson (Swe) 69 77 77 70; R McGowan  (Eng) 71 72 74 76;

294 S Jeffress (Aus) 76 70 74 74;

295 P Wilson (Aus) 72 71 73 79; S Wakefield (Eng) 72 74 68 81;

296 L McKechnie (Aus) 74 72 72 78; P Cooke (Aus) 72 73 74 77;

302 N Basic (Aus) 72 74 78 78;

  featured, isps, jin jeong, perth international, summer of golf