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Ha Na Jang is another Korean golfer who became
a star while still a teenage amateur. She is short in stature,
but strongly built, and as a result hits the ball extremely
far. Bubbly in nature, she has quickly become one of the strongest
of the young up and coming amateur golfers in Korea. How strong?
She finished tied for 42nd at the Korean Women's Open as a
12 year old.
At some unknown point, Jang and her family
relocated to the US, and now reside in San Diego, CA. She
is renowned for a relentless work schedule which sees her
working often until midnight six days a week.
In 2007, Jang began playing top events with
international fields more regularly, with great results. She
made a big splash early in the summer, winning the Callaway
Junior World Championship in North Carolina by ten shots.
On one hole, she recorded a 312 yard drive.
At the US Girls Junior that year, she got
out to a great start by finishing second in the stroke play
portion of the event -- behind only Kimberly Kim, who set
a record with her own score. But Jang did not last long in
the match play, losing in the first round. A few weeks later,
she had a much more impressive run at the US Women's Amateur.
Among those she trounced in match play were highly touted
American youngster Alexis Thompson and fellow Korean amateur
star Mi Jung Hur, while she eked out a close 20 hole win over
college star Tiffany Joh. Jang finally lost in the semifinals
to eventual champion Maria Jose Uribe, although it took Uribe
making two ridiculously long putts, including a 50+ foot birdie,
to do it.
Jang had a superlative 2009 season. She won
the World Golf Championship that summer by six shots. In the
fall, she played in two KLPGA Majors, and found herself in
contention in both of them. At the Hite Cup, she finished
third behind winner Hee Kyung Seo. But at the year's final
Major, the KB Star Tour Grand Final, she duked it out with
Seo until the bitter end. In fact, she even briefly captured
a share of the lead before Seo claimed it back. In the end
Jang lost by a shot to Seo, the KLPGA's top player.
Jang flew under the radar in 2010. She turned
pro early and played mostly mini-tours. At the end of the
season, she attended KLPGA Q-School and easily earned a tour
card for 2011. In her very first event as a KLPGA member,
she contended for the win and notched a top ten finish. But
her rookie year proved to be a bit underwhelming. Touted as
one of the top prospects for Rookie of the Year, she never
really challenged the eventual winner, Yeon Ju Jung. She had
three top ten finishes, her best result a third at the S-OIL
Champions. She finished 32nd on the tour's money list.
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