16-year-old Lee Hyosong, Youngest Rookie of the Year in JLPGA Tour History

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‘Golf prodigy’ Lee Hyosong received the youngest-ever Rookie of the Year award in the 2024 Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour.

Lee Hyosong is taking a commemorative photo after receiving the youngest-ever Rookie of the Year award at the JLPGA Tour awards ceremony. Photo by JLPGA

On the afternoon of the 17th, she was selected as the best rookie at the JLPGA Tour awards ceremony held at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Born on November 11, 2008, she turned 16 last month. Lee Hyosong claimed the top spot at the JLPGA Tour major tournament, the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, in May. At the age of 15 years and 176 days, she lifted the winner’s trophy. This is the youngest victory record in the history of the JLPGA Tour, which was established in 1968.

It has been 14 years since a Korean player won the JLPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, the last being Ahn Sunju in 2010. Starting with Ko Woo-soon in 1994, followed by Han Heewon in 1998, Lee Jihui in 2001, Jeon Mijeong in 2006, Song Bobae in 2009, and Ahn Sunju in 2010, Lee Hyosong is the seventh Korean player to earn the Rookie of the Year title. After declaring her professional status immediately following her victory at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, she received special permission from the JLPGA Tour and joined as a member of the 97th class on July 23.

Lee Hyosong said in her acceptance speech, "I am honored to receive the once-in-a-lifetime Rookie of the Year award on the JLPGA stage. I deeply thank everyone who has always supported and cheered for me. I am realizing the high barriers of the professional stage, and I will focus on winter training to show even better performance in the new year."