'April Return' Yoon Ina, Will She Lead KLPGA Tour Excitement?

‘Ogu Play’ Disciplinary Reduction Allows April Comeback
Remains Strong After Securing Seed at Australian Women’s Pro Golf QT
Powerful Long Shots, Potential ‘Storm’ If Match Fitness Recovers

Can Yoonina, who had her 'Ogu play penalty reduced,' lead the 2024 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour? This is the biggest focus in the domestic golf world in 2024. For now, she has clearly shown hope.

On the 9th, she finished 4th at the 2024 Australian Ladies Professional Golf (WPGA) Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT) held at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club (par 72) in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia. Among 60 players from 15 countries, she secured a WPGA Tour card awarded to the top five. She played 36 holes over two days, recording five birdies (two bogeys) on the first day and six birdies (two bogeys) on the second day.

The KLPGA Tour expects Yoon Ina, returning to the field in April, to play a key role in attracting attention.

In June 2022, during the Korea Women's Open, Yoonina knowingly continued playing with a ball that was not hers. About a month after the tournament ended, she voluntarily reported this to the Korea Golf Association (KGA). Subsequently, she received a three-year suspension from both the KGA and KLPGA, which was recently reduced to one year and six months, opening the way for her return to the field. The KGA suspension ends in February, and the KLPGA suspension ends in March.

Due to the suspension, Yoonina was unable to participate in KLPGA Tour events. Unable to compete domestically, she occasionally appeared in minor league golf tours in the United States. The WPGA Tour QT she recently played was her first tournament appearance in nearly a year. Although many around her were worried, she demonstrated her skills and achieved the goal of securing a tour card.

Last year, Yoonina focused diligently on training. Domestically, she mainly practiced her shots at Seosan Su Golf & Resort located in Seosan, Chungnam. After the weather turned cold, she moved to Vietnam for training camp before heading to Australia. Yoonina will continue training in Australia until mid-March before returning home. Having secured a WPGA Tour card, she plans to participate in Australian tournaments to gain more competitive experience before returning to Korea.

The management company Crowning, which has observed Yoonina’s play, expressed high expectations. Crowning commented, "She still hits long distances. Her swing is not perfect yet, but it is gradually improving." Yoonina debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2022, bringing a fresh breeze to the tour with her powerful long drives. She gained popularity by winning her first career title at the Ever Collagen Queens Crown in July. Crowds of spectators followed her to watch her play.

This year, the KLPGA Tour needs Yoonina’s performance. Players like Lee Somi, Sung Yujin, and Lim Jinhee, who led the tour until last year, have moved to the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Yoonina is one of the alternatives to fill the gap left by these three players. She has renewed her mindset, saying, "I will never repeat the same mistake and will play honestly and diligently according to the spirit and rules of golf." She added, "I will devote myself to training until I can stand on the field again for the fans." Although Crowning has not specified Yoonina’s exact return date, it is highly likely she will appear at the domestic season opener in April.