'Captain Charge' Hwang Yumin Shoots 5-Under, Makes Waves in Hawaii

'Captain Charge' Hwang Yumin delivered an impressive performance in Hawaii.

On October 1 (local time), at Hoakalei Country Club (par 72, 6,566 yards) in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, she played a flawless round in the first round of the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship (total prize money: 3 million dollars), carding five birdies without a single bogey. As an invited player, she set the stage to compete for the championship. She is three strokes behind the leader, Akie Awai of Japan, who shot an 8-under-par 64.

Hwang Yumin smiles after making a birdie on the 18th hole of the first round at the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship. Photo by Daehong Communications

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Hwang Yumin started on the 10th hole (par 4), warmed up with birdies on the 11th (par 5) and 15th (par 3) holes, then made back-to-back birdies on the 18th and 1st holes, and added another birdie on the 5th hole (par 5). She finished the remaining four holes with pars to complete her first round. Her average driving distance of 284 yards stood out, and she missed only one fairway and one green. However, her 30 putts left something to be desired.

Hwang Yumin debuted on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in 2023 and has already secured two career victories. Known for her aggressive style of play, she has earned the nickname 'Captain Charge.' She is aiming to advance to the United States after this season and plans to participate in the LPGA Tour Qualifying Series held at the end of the year.

This year, Hwang Yumin competed in major tournaments such as the US Women's Open (tied for 56th), the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (tied for 19th), and the Amundi Evian Championship (tied for 49th). She made the cut in all three events, demonstrating her potential to succeed on the LPGA Tour. If she wins this tournament, she will earn full status to compete on the LPGA Tour next year.

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