Rising Australian golfer Jessica Bang has died at just 18 years old after suffering a brain hemorrhage while preparing for a major qualifying event in Thailand.
Bang collapsed on Aug. 1 while getting ready for the KLPGA Tour’s International Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, according to her family.
She was rushed to Synphat Ramintra Hospital, where she underwent emergency brain surgery and was later placed on life support.
Her cousins launched a GoFundMe in hopes of helping bring the young golfer back home to Australia for continued care.
But in a heartbreaking update, the family announced that Bang died at 7:20 a.m. local time Thursday.
“We are truly heartbroken by this news,” her cousins wrote. “However, we would like to continue to remember Jessica and celebrate her achievements, passion, and dedication to golf.”
They remembered her as a cheerful and vibrant young woman with a great sense of humor.
“As her cousins, we will forever cherish the time and memories we shared with Jessica,” they wrote. “Her sense of humor, together with her cheerful and vibrant personality, will always be remembered and treasured by our family.”
The fundraiser had collected nearly $36,000 Australian dollars by the time of the update.
Her family said the money will now go to Bang’s parents to help cover her medical expenses.
The WPGA Tour of Australasia also released a statement mourning the loss of one of the sport’s promising young players.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time,” the organization said.
Bang had only recently begun what appeared to be a promising professional career.
According to her family, she qualified earlier this year to begin her rookie season with the WPGA/KLPGA after reportedly turning professional last year.
In February, she won the Ford Women’s NSW Regional Qualifying tournament at Moss Vale in just her fifth professional start.
The victory was a major breakthrough for the teenager.
“I’m so happy, I can’t even put it into words,” Bang said after the win. “It still doesn’t feel real yet. I did not expect this at all — big surprise.”
Her sudden death has now sent shockwaves through the Australian golf community, cutting short the career of a young athlete who appeared to be just beginning to make her mark on the sport.