|
Hyun Hwa Shim started her professional career
by trying to qualify for the LPGA and Futures Tour in America
in 2007. She missed the cut at both qualifiers, and so returned
to Korea and joined the Jump Tour, a developmental tour of
the KLPGA. She played well enough there to make the KLPGA
tour in 2009. She finished 23rd on the money list in her rookie
year, with her best finish a third place.
Shim's 2010 season was much like her first
year. She produced 5 top tens and finished 30th on the money
list. Solid numbers, but nothing that suggested she was capable
of getting to the next level.
And then came the 2011 season, and everything
changed. Shim burst from the pack to become one of the very
best players on tour; indeed, at several times during the
season, she was the very top player. It started with an 8th
place at the China Ladies Open. She won the very next event
to vault to the top of the money list. After that, she had
top tens in five of the next six events.
Shim faded somewhat over the next few months,
but she rebounded towards the end of the season with several
more top 20s, including a second place at the second to last
event of the year. In all, she managed 10 top tens and made
over 340 million won to finish second on the year's money
list, ahead of even Major winner So Yeon Ryu. It had been
a fabulous breakout season for the young star.
|
