KLPGA 'Major Star' Emerges... Rookie Yoon Ina Hits 300-Yard Drives Galore

Evercollagen Queens Crown's 'Wire to Wire' Victory, Powerful Long Hits and Aggressive Play "Next Goal is Also Victory"

Yoo Yina is kissing the scepter right after winning the Ever Collagen Queens Crown. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The drought of stars in the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour has ended.

Following Kim Hyo-joo (27), Jeon In-ji (28), Ko Jin-young (27), Lee Jeong-eun 6 (26), and Choi Hye-jin (23), who moved to the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, a new major player has emerged. The protagonist is the "Long Drive Queen" Yoon In-na (19). She proved her worth by winning her first career victory at the KLPGA Tour Ever Collagen Queens Crown, which concluded on the 17th at Lakewood Golf Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. It was a "wire-to-wire" win, maintaining the lead throughout the four days.

Yoon In-na began playing golf in the 5th grade of elementary school and is a promising player who has represented the national team. She won the Ilsong Cup Korean Junior Championship in 2017 and the Korean Women's Amateur Championship in 2019. After topping the seed ranking at the Jump (3rd tier) Tour Qualifying Tournament in May last year, she entered the Dream (2nd tier) Tour with one win, two runner-up finishes, and one third place in four tournaments. Joining the Dream Tour late in July, she ranks first in prize money (91.97 million KRW) with two wins and eight top-10 finishes.

Yoon In-na is a "newsmaker." In June last year, during the first round of the 6th Jump Tour event sponsored by Grand-Samdaein, she made three eagles. Starting at the 10th hole, she made her first eagle at the 12th hole (513 yards), followed by eagles at the 1st hole (542 yards) and the 7th hole (488 yards, both par 5s). This is the first time a KLPGA Tour player has made three eagles in a single round. Last month, during the first round of the DB Group Korean Women's Open, after a sextuple bogey on the 10th hole (par 5), she made a hole-in-one on the 11th hole (145 yards).

Yoo Yina cheers after making a winning birdie on the 18th hole on the final day of the Ever Collagen Queens Crown. Photo by KLPGA

Yoon In-na enjoys an aggressive playing style, which is why she attracts large galleries. Her long drives, utilizing her tall 170cm frame, are outstanding. This season, she leads the long drive category with an average of 263.73 yards. At the Ever Collagen Queens Crown, she showcased her long driving power without reservation. Her average driving distance exceeded 270 yards. On the 13th hole (par 4) in the second round, she recorded 316 yards, and on the final day, her drives surpassed 290 yards, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Yoon In-na said, "I have no intention of reducing my distance to improve accuracy," adding, "If there is no significant risk on par 5 holes, I will attempt to reach the green in two shots." Recently, she has been focusing on her short game because her long tee shots often leave her within 100 meters to the hole. Yoon, who said, "I wanted my first win more than the Rookie of the Year title," stated, "My next goal is another victory," and expressed her ambition, "My ultimate goal is to advance to the U.S. stage and be inducted into the Hall of Fame."