[2022 New Start⑫] 'Super Fast Debut' Lee Yewon "Expecting National Team Power"

Promoted to Full Member in 1 Month, Secured 5th Place Seed in Dream Tour Prize Money, Strong Performance in 2 Regular Tour Events: "Aiming to Be 'Number 1' Like Park In-bi"

Former national team member and 'super rookie' Lee Ye-won expressed her ambition, saying, "My goals are Rookie of the Year and world No. 1 ranking." Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "National Team Power."

This year, the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour is experiencing a "bountiful year of star rookies." There are many outstanding players who have honed their skills through the National Team, Jump (3rd tier) Tour, and Dream (2nd tier) Tour. Lee Ye-won (19, KB Financial Group) is receiving particular attention. She was promoted from associate member to full member within one month of joining, and even after joining the Dream Tour late, she secured a regular tour card by ranking 5th in the prize money list. This is why golf fans are focused on her.

Lee Ye-won was first selected for the national reserve team in 2016 and won the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup. In 2018, she attracted attention by collecting championship trophies in various tournaments, including the KB Financial Group Women’s Amateur Golf Championship. She was selected as a national team member in 2019 and 2020. Afterward, she also reached the top in the Hosim Cup Amateur Golf Championship and the team event of the Asia-Pacific Women’s Amateur Golf Team Championship at the Queen Sirikit Cup in Australia.

In March last year, she became a KLPGA associate member under the qualification of "maintaining national team status for two years and being recommended by the Korea Golf Association (KGA)." After topping the Jump Tour qualifying, she achieved consecutive wins in the first and second rounds. She placed 4th in the third round and 2nd in the fourth round, demonstrating a "supernatural power" by being promoted to full member just one month after joining as an associate member. She was highly praised as a player with "solid skills and unwavering mental strength."

Her unstoppable momentum continued after moving to the Dream Tour stage. After finishing 3rd in her first tournament, she won the first round of the Q Capital Partners Dream Challenge. Even though she joined the Dream Tour mid-season, she ranks 5th in prize money (73.23 million KRW). She is a player with consistent and flaw-free performance in driving, irons, and putting. Last year, she ranked 1st in average score (69.16), 7th in greens in regulation (82.02%), 9th in average putts (29.84), and 1st in top 10 finish rate (62.50%).

She has already proven her skills on the professional stage. Last season, she showed potential by finishing 14th in the regular tour KB Financial Star Championship and 25th in the OK Savings Bank Park Se-ri Invitational. Lee Ye-won’s declaration is also bold. "First, I want to win Rookie of the Year," she confidently stated. Her role model is the "Golf Queen" Park In-bi (34, KB Financial Group), who plays for the same agency. "My goal is to become world number one, like the respected Park In-bi," she said.