South Korean amateurs Jeyi Son (Son Je-yi, 손제이) and Cheon Ji-yul (천지율) shared 20th place at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, each completing four rounds in 292 strokes (+8). The event took place from 29 October to 1 November at Te Arai Links South Course in New Zealand, where coastal wind and rain tested an international field.
Two paths to the same score
Son posted rounds of 71, 75, 74 and 72. His closing 72 (+1) included one birdie and two bogeys. Cheon rose from a tie for 28th before the final round into a share of 20th. After making bogey at the opening hole, he recorded three birdies and one bogey over the back nine. Both finished eight over par on a par-71 course.
This was Cheon's first Asia-Pacific Amateur appearance. Although disappointed by his finishing position, he described competing against players from other countries as valuable experience. Son arrived with a major junior success on his résumé: he won the 2026 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Championship in Sri Lanka in June. The exposed links course offered a different challenge from tournaments played on more familiar layouts.
Five South Koreans made the cut
Of South Korea's seven entrants, five survived the 36-hole cut at +13. Behind Son and Cheon, Minhyeok Yu (유민혁) tied for 27th on 294 (+10), Jeong Ui-seok (정의석) tied for 46th with 303 (+19) and Lee Yong-jae (이용재) finished 62nd on 328 (+44). Kang Geon (강건) and Park Si-woo (박시우) missed the cut.
Strong wind and intermittent rain affected the opening rounds. Controlling ball flight, selecting clubs and judging distance became particularly demanding. For Korea's emerging amateurs, the competition offered a practical lesson in how to adapt strategy to links-style golf and unfamiliar weather.
A top-20 finish, but no Korean top 10
No Korean player finished inside the top 10. South Korea last won this tournament in 2013 through Lee Chang-woo; Han Chang-won had delivered the country's first victory in 2009. The winner receives invitations to the following year's Masters Tournament and The Open.
Thailand's Fifa Laopakdee retained the title with 278 (−6), three strokes ahead of New Zealand's Zack Swanwick. South Korea left without a podium finish but with two players in a tie for 20th, five weekend qualifiers and experience that should help its next group of amateur contenders.
Results cross-checked against championship information and reports by Yonhap and Maeil Business Newspaper published on 1 November 2026.
