"Long Drive Queen" Yoon Ina Challenges to Become the Inaugural Champ This Time

Challenging 2 Consecutive Wins at Newly Established Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women’s Classic
Park Ji-young’s 'Revenge Match', Im Hee-jung and Cho A-yeon Join
Park Min-ji Absent to Participate in Evian

Yoo Yina aims to become the inaugural champion at the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's Classic.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Long Drive Queen’ Yoon Ina (19) is now challenging to become the inaugural champion.

Yoon Ina aims for her second consecutive win at the newly established KLPGA Tour event, Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's Classic (total prize money 1 billion KRW), held on the 22nd at H1 Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do (par 72, 6,654 yards). Last week, Yoon Ina claimed her first career victory at the Ever Collagen Queens Crown. She secured the lead wire-to-wire over four days. Her rapid rise is evident as she became the first rookie to collect a winner’s trophy in just 14 tournaments.

Yoon Ina has rapidly emerged as a key attraction leading the KLPGA Tour. After topping the Jump (3rd tier) Tour seed ranking in May last year, she entered the Dream (2nd tier) Tour with one win, two runner-ups, and one third place in four tournaments. Joining the Dream Tour late in July, she ranked first in the prize money standings with two wins and eight top-10 finishes, securing her ticket to the regular tour. After an adaptation period early this season, she has recently entered the top 3 three times, including one win, in the last four tournaments.

Yoon Ina produces many birdies with her powerful long drives. She ranks first in driving distance this season with an average of 263.73 yards. Thanks to her overwhelming distance, she easily attacks the greens with short irons, boasting an outstanding greens in regulation rate of 79.92% (3rd place). She is second in rookie points (1,292 points), fifth in prize money (374.45 million KRW), eighth in overall points (217 points), and 13th in scoring average (70.98 strokes). Yoon Ina confidently states, "I will aim for the win in this tournament as well."

Park Ji-young challenges her second win of the season at the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's Classic.

‘Mediheal Champ’ Park Ji-young (26), who finished second by one stroke last week, seeks revenge in this tournament. Park Ji-young currently ranks first in scoring average (69.78 strokes), second in prize money (505.65 million KRW), and third in overall points (312 points). This year’s champion group, including Lim Hee-jung, Cho Ah-yeon, and Jung Yoon-ji (all 22), will also compete. Hong Ran (36) joins as a recommended player. ‘Domestic No. 1’ Park Min-ji (24) will skip this tournament to participate in the LPGA Tour major, the Amundi Evian Championship in the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.