YOUMIN HWANG

In 2021, Hwang played five KLPGA events, notching two top tens. Her best finish was a tie for 4th at the Korea Women's Open, the year's most important event. The next year she finished runner up at the NH Ladies Championship. Clearly she was a player to watch.

Hwang turned pro at the end of 2022 and qualified for the KLPGA at Q-School. All eyes were on her as the probable Rookie of the Year, even more so after she and So Young Lee combined to win a team event before the season even began. The hype grew when she was invited by her sponsor Lotte to appear at the LPGA event they sponsored, the Lotte Championship, in April. Hwang finished tied for 9th in her first ever LPGA appearance.

But once the KLPGA season began, her thunder was somewhat stolen by the appearance of the even younger and longer-hitting Shin Sil Bang, who became the first rookie to win that year, then after that the hyper consistent Min Byeol Kim, who lost a playoff at the Korea Women's Open. Hwang herself had her first top ten at that event, a t-9th. She followed that with a tie for 8th, and quickly became one of the most popular players on tour. The battle between the three amazing young players became one of the top stories on tour all year.

At the next event, the Dayouwinia MBN Women's Open, she ended up in an epic battle with her two big rookie rivals for the title. Bang faded in the end, but Kim and Hwang wound up in a playoff, both seeking their first career win. It would become the highest rated event all year on the KLPGA, with their playoff the highest rated part of the event. In the end, Kim hit her tee shot into a divot and struck her approach over the green, while Hwang hit hers to within four feet. She made the birdie and claimed the win and, for the moment, the lead in the rookie race.

Kim did not win in 2023, but she did reclaim the lead in the rookie race. But in October, after several near misses, Hwang took the lead into the final round of the Korean Land Trust Championship, the year's only Stableford scoring event. But Bang was lurking, and she played brilliantly in the final round to steal the win from Hwang, who finished tied for 4th with none other than Min Byeol Kim.

In the end, Hwang finished behind Kim in the rookie race. But it was still a fantastic year: she earned 655 million won, 11th on the money list. She had the win, a second, and two thirds, one at the Hite Cup, one of the year's Majors. She had eight top tens in total.

Hwang would get a chance to team with her good friend and rival Kim at the end of the year. They played at the Simone Cup, an event pitting teams of two players from Pacific Rim countries in a team and individual competition. Hwang's and Kim's team finished tied for second behind the Thai players Atthaya Thitikul and Jaravee Boonchant. Thitikul also won the individual medal, but Kim finished third and Hwang tied for 8th.

Hwang also finished second in the Most Popular voting at year's end, behind only perennial superstar Hyun Kyung Park. No doubt the bubbly, long hitting player is going to continue to be one of the top attractions on tour in 2024.