Rookie Yuinah: "I'm Hot These Days~"..."Did You See the Shot Eagle?"

Makcol·Monapark Open Day 1: Im Jinhee Tied for Lead at 5 Under, Choi Yerim 3rd, Park Gyeol and Kim Jihyun Tied 4th, Defending Champ Kim Haerim Tied 26th

Yoo Yina is celebrating with her caddie after making a birdie on the 7th hole on the first day of the Maccol·Monapark Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Rookie Yoon Ina (19) is 'hot.'

She is frequently caught on the broadcast camera. On the 1st round of the DB Group Korea Women's Open, a major KLPGA Tour event held on the 16th of last month at Rainbow Hills Golf Course in Eumseong, Chungbuk, she experienced both hell and heaven. At the 10th hole (par 5), she recorded a 'sextuple bogey,' taking 6 strokes over par, but on the 11th hole (par 3, 145 yards), her tee shot went straight into the hole for a hole-in-one.

At the BC Card-Hankyung Ladies Cup (total prize money 800 million KRW), which ended on the 26th of last month at Pocheon Hills Golf Course in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, she drew attention with her performance. She shot 8 under par on the first day, tying for the lead with Park Min-ji (24), the 'number one in the country.' She added 1 under par on the second day and 2 under par on the third day, finishing in 3rd place, her best result of the season. She has entered 11 tournaments this year and made the 'top 10' three times. She ranks 23rd in the prize money rankings (13,699,000 KRW) and 4th in rookie points (797 points).

Yoon Ina is a promising national team player who started golf in the 5th grade of elementary school. She joined the regular tour this year after going through the Jump (3rd tier) Tour and Dream (2nd tier) Tour last year. She joined the Dream Tour late in July last year and topped the prize money rankings (9,197,000 KRW) with 8 top-10 finishes, including 2 wins. In the 1st round of the 6th event of the Grand-Samdae-in Jump Tour in June last year, Yoon Ina made 3 eagles, the first time in KLPGA Tour history to record 3 eagles in one round.

Im Jin-hee is making an iron shot on the 10th hole on the first day of the Maekcol·Monapark Open. Photo by KLPGA

Yoon Ina is gradually living up to her name. On the 1st day of the McCol·Monapark Open (total prize money 800 million KRW) held at Birch Hill Golf Course (par 72, 6,434 yards) in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, she shot 5 under par to take the top spot on the leaderboard. She recorded 1 eagle, 5 birdies, and 2 bogeys. Although she was only 1 under par in the front nine, she made an eagle on the 11th hole (par 4) and birdies on the 16th and 18th holes, which were like stepping stones. She shares the lead with Im Jin-hee (24), two strokes ahead, laying the foundation for her first victory.

Choi Ye-rim (23) is in 3rd place (4 under par, 68 strokes), while Park Gyeol (26) and Kim Ji-hyun (31) are chasing in a tie for 4th place (3 under par, 69 strokes). Including 2016 champion Lee So-young (25), last year's runner-up Lee Ga-young (23), Kang Ye-rin (28), and Lee So-mi (23) are tied for 8th place (2 under par, 70 strokes). Defending champion Kim Hae-rim (33) exchanged 2 birdies for 2 bogeys and could not reduce her score, tied for 26th place (even par, 72 strokes). Yu Hae-ran (21), ranked 2nd in the Grand Prize, struggled, tied for 67th place (3 over par, 75 strokes).