[2021 New Start⑬] "Late Bloomer Rookie" Shin Bo-min: "Challenge Is Beautiful"

Entry into KLPGA Tour Division 1 After 9 Years: "Hard Worker" with Unique Background as Soccer and Track Athlete "I Will Be a Consistent Player"

The "late bloomer rookie" Shin Bo-min, entering the KLPGA Tour after 9 years, is determined to "show mature play." Photo by SBI Savings Bank

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Late bloomer’.

Shin Bo-min (26, SBI Savings Bank) is a rookie on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She is a ‘late rookie’ who entered the regular tour after a full 9 years since joining the KLPGA in 2012. “I am really happy to be able to play on the long-awaited first division tour,” said Shin Bo-min, smiling brightly, adding, “Since I came up later than others, my biggest goal is to prepare more solidly and show a good performance. I ask for lots of support from golf fans.”

Shin Bo-min was active as a soccer and track athlete until the 4th grade of elementary school. She started a new life on the recommendation of her father, who liked golf. “I liked the feeling of ‘I did it’ when I hit a perfect shot and when the ball went into the hole,” she explained, “so I asked my father that I wanted to become a golf player.” On the professional stage, she never gave up and kept challenging herself. In 2012, she achieved decent results on the Grand Dream (2nd division) Tour and was promoted to full membership.

However, the wall of the KLPGA was high. She could not produce remarkable results and had to compete in the Dream Tour seed ranking tournament. She struggled to get out of the slump. In 2019, she only participated in four Dream Tour tournaments. Even her mental strength, which she trusted more than anyone else, was shaken, but she never gave up. Eventually, she began to achieve results. In July last year, she won her first victory at the KBC Dream Tour West Ocean CC 1st round (total prize money 200 million KRW) held in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do.

It was a thrilling joy after an extended playoff against Ahn Ji-hyun (22, Mediheal). She received a winner’s prize of 36 million KRW and ranked 13th in the Dream Tour prize money (44.41 million KRW), finally securing a ticket to the first division tour. “The important thing is to have the belief that you can quickly recover even if your mental state is shaken,” said Shin Bo-min, smiling, “Thanks to the difficult experiences, I can now get up faster than anyone else. I still enjoy golf.”

Last winter, she worked hard in Yongin. After focusing on physical training, she supplemented technical aspects including practical sense. In the 2021 season opener Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open (total prize money 600 million KRW) held last week in Jeju, she was cut off. She struggled with strong winds and scored 82 strokes for two consecutive days. “There is still a lot to improve,” she said, “This year, I will work harder to become a player who consistently produces good results.”