Jeongeun Lee5 stands as one of South Korea’s skilled professional golfers who has competed on both the KLPGA and LPGA tours since turning pro. The “5” in her name helps fans tell her apart from other Korean golfers who share the same name.
Throughout her career, she has earned respect for her consistent play and determination on the course.
Jeongeun Lee5’s Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lee Jeong-eun |
| Date of Birth | October 20, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Turned Pro | 2008 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1.5 million – $2 million |
| Career Earnings | $1,660,883 (LPGA only) |
Early Career
Jeongeun Lee5 turned pro in 2007 and joined the Korean LPGA tour right away. Her breakthrough came in 2009 when she won twice and collected six top tens, earning over 280 million won and finishing fourth on the year-end money list.
The biggest highlight of that season came at the Shinsegae KLPGA Championship, where she battled against top Korean star Hee Kyung Seo and won her first major title.
Seo had already won the Korean Women’s Open earlier that year and would go on to win the other two majors, making Lee5 the only player who prevented Seo from completing a major sweep.
Lee5 continued building her career on the KLPGA tour through the early 2010s. She won the Hyundai event in September 2010 and finished seventh on the money list that year.
In 2011, she captured the Nefs Masterpiece title in August and earned nearly 200 million won, placing 15th on the money list. She had strong finishes in 2013, including runner-up results at the Woori Financial and Lotte Mart Women’s Open, which helped her finish 12th on the money list with approximately 280 million won earned.
Her early career showed steady progress and established her as a competitive force in Korean women’s golf.
Professional Career
After earning conditional LPGA status through Q-School in 2014, Lee5 played sparingly on the American tour while focusing primarily on the KLPGA.
She captured her fifth career KLPGA win in July 2015 at the Samdasoo Ladies Masters, defeating So Yeon Park in a playoff.
The breakthrough on the LPGA tour came in 2017 after she earned a full card by finishing solo fifth at Q-School in December 2016.
That year, she made over $350,000 to finish 54th on the money list with four top tens, including a career-best tie for third at the Founders Cup.
Lee5 maintained consistent form in 2018, earning approximately $366,000 and finishing 59th on the money list. Her best major championship result came that year with a tie for 11th at the Evian Championship.
She achieved her best LPGA finish in 2021 when she tied for second behind Jin Young Ko at the Cambia Portland Classic, earning her over $263,000 that season and 69th place on the money list.
Recent years have been more challenging, with Lee5 earning $114,000 in 2024 to finish 128th on the money list. She attempted to regain her card through Q-Series in fall 2024 but fell short, leaving her status for 2026 uncertain as she works to rebuild her career.
Caddie
Jeongeun Lee5 has worked with different caddies throughout her career. According to player-caddie lists from recent tournaments, Nicholas DiBello appears on her bag for some 2025 LPGA events.
Earlier in her career, sources mention Bob Kendall working as her caddie during tournament appearances. Most recently, LPGA player-caddie lists show Ei Kawato carrying her bag at certain tournaments.
The relationship between golfer and caddie plays a huge role in success on tour, as caddies provide course management advice, yardage calculations, and emotional support during rounds.
Like many professional golfers, Lee5 has changed caddies over the years based on scheduling, chemistry, and performance needs.
Jeongeun Lee5’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Jeongeun Lee5’s estimated net worth ranges between $1.5 million and $2 million, based on her career tournament earnings, endorsement deals, and prize money from both KLPGA and LPGA tours.
Career Earnings
| Year | LPGA Earnings | KLPGA Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $15,000 | – |
| 2016 | – | 257,651,211 won (24th) |
| 2017 | $350,000+ (54th) | 1,149,052,534 won (1st) |
| 2018 | $366,471 (59th) | 957,641,447 won (1st) |
| 2019 | $180,000 (81st) | 50,000,000 won |
| 2020 | $74,000 (94th) | 340,378,707 won (12th) |
| 2021 | $263,000 (69th) | 16,526,328 won |
| 2022 | $702,979 (42nd) | 32,180,000 won |
| 2023 | $164,000 (108th) | 5,920,000 won |
| 2024 | $114,000 (128th) | – |
| 2025 | $39,705 (through mid-season) | – |
Career Stats
| Category | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Career LPGA Earnings | $1,660,883 |
| Career LPGA Top 10s | 7 |
| Career LPGA Victories | 0 |
| Career KLPGA Victories | 5 |
| Best LPGA Finish | T-2nd (2021 Cambia Portland Classic) |
| Best LPGA Major Finish | T-11th (2018 Evian Championship) |
| Best KLPGA Finish | 1st (Multiple wins) |
| Best Score | 63 (2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic) |
| Best Scoring Average | 70.88 (2017) |
| 2025 Starts | 15 |
| 2025 Cuts Made | 10 |
| 2025 Top 10s | 0 |
| Current Rolex Ranking | 277 |
FAQs
1. What does the “5” mean in Jeongeun Lee5’s name?
The “5” in her name distinguishes her from five other Korean professional golfers who share the exact same name, Jeongeun Lee. The numbering system helps fans, media, and tournament officials tell them apart. Lee6 won the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open and became the most famous among them.
2. Has Jeongeun Lee5 ever won on the LPGA Tour?
She has never won an LPGA tournament. Her best finish came at the 2021 Cambia Portland Classic where she tied for second place behind Jin Young Ko.
3. What are Jeongeun Lee5’s hobbies outside of golf?
She enjoys playing with Legos during her free time away from the golf course. This hobby provides her with relaxation and a creative outlet that differs completely from the mental demands of professional golf. Many tour players find activities unrelated to golf help them maintain balance.
4. How successful was Jeongeun Lee5 on the Korean LPGA tour?
She won five times on the KLPGA tour, including a major championship at the 2009 Shinsegae KLPGA Championship. She topped the KLPGA money list in both 2017 and 2018, earning over one billion won and nearly 958 million won respectively during those dominant seasons.
5. Is Jeongeun Lee5 still playing professional golf?
Her current tour status remains uncertain after missing the cut at the 2024 Q-Series qualifying tournament. She earned $39,705 through partial 2025 LPGA appearances but her limited category status restricts tournament access.
