YAEEUN HONG (홍예은)
LPGA TOUR
NATIONALITY: Korea
BORN: September 14, 2002
RESIDES: Seoul, Korea
ACADEMICS: Shinsung High School
HEIGHT: 5’ 6” (168 cm)
STATUS: Professional (2023 LPGA Tour Member)
CAREER OVERVIEW
No. 1 Putter on LPGA Tour in 2022 & 2023 in Putting Average
No. 1 in Putting per GIR on 2022 LPGA Tour
No. 1 in Driving Accuracy on 2021 EPSON Tour
2020 Florida Natural Charity Classic – T3
2019 LPGA Tour Q-School 2nd Stage – T4
2019 Suntory Ladies (JLPGA) – T12
2019 Women's Australian Master of Amateurs - T6
2019 The Avondale Amateur - T5
2019 Australian Women's Amateur – Win
2019 ISPS Handa VIC Open (LPGA) - Low Amateur
2019 Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship – 4th
2018 Hite Jinro Championship (KLPGA) - T19 (Low Amateur)
2018 SK Networks SEOKYUNG Ladies Classic (KLPGA) – T35
2018 World Amateur Team Championship - Bronze Medal (Team Korea)
2017 SK Pinx SEOKYUNG Ladies Classic (KLPGA) – T47 (Low Amateur)
2015 Evian Championship Junior Cup - Win (Team Korea)
*Played in 14 professional events as an amateur
Yaeeun's Story
Yaeeun was born in Seoul, and influenced by her father Taesik who was a former professional golfer. She picked up golf in 3rd grade and was already competing nationally within a year.
Yaeeun started attracting attention at a young age as golfing prodigy, bombing her tee shots as far as her older playing partners.
She began to make a name for herself as a 15 year old amateur when she soared up to 2nd place after posting a 6-under 66 during the second round of the 2018 SK Networks-SEOKYUNG Ladies Classic on the KLPGA Tour, despite strong wind, rain and foggy conditions in Jeju Island.
Yaeeun represented Korea at the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship, leading her team to a bronze medal. She was invited to play in the KLPGA major at the Hite Jinro Championship and finished T19.
In January 2019, Yaeeun won the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship which was her first national championship and her third win overall. The victory exempted her into LPGA Tour’s ISPS Women’s Australian Open and ISPS Handa VIC Open where she finished as the low amateur.
Yaeeun finished T4 at the 2019 LPGA Qualifying Second Stage but could not advance to the LPGA Q-Series as she did not meet the minimum age requirement. However, with her finish she earned full status for 2020 Symetra Tour.
Her physical stature which is based on solid training contributes to her distance off the tee and is comparable to her professional counterparts older than her. Driving and accuracy is the strongest part of her game.
Yaeeun attributes her strengths to “cool and consistent play based on strong mentality” and hopes to become a role model to many and give back to her community.
Yaeeun kicked off her Symetra Tour debut on a strong beat with a T3 finish at the Florida Natural Charity Classic. She is on her quest to finish Top 10 on the money list to earn full status on the 2021 LPGA Tour.
홍예은은 서울에서 태어나 前 프로골퍼 국가대표 출신인 아버지의 영향을 받아 초등학교 3학년때부터 골프를 시작하여 1년이 안되어 전국대회에 입상하기 시작했다.
어렸을 때부터 나이 많은 언니들 보다 공을 더 멀리 치면서 사람들의 눈길을 끌기 시작했다.
2018년 정규프로투어 대회인 KLPGA SK네트웍스-서울경제 레이디스 클래식에서 15세의 나이로 제주의 강풍에도 불구하고 2라운드 6언더 (66타)를 기록하여 2위에 오르며 본격적으로 이름을 알리기 시작했다. 2018년에 세계선수권 월드아마추어 골프팀 대항전에 한국 대표로 출전하여 단체전 동메달을 차지했다. 같은 해 KLPGA메이저 대회인 하이트진로 챔피언쉽 대회에 초청자격을 출전하여 공동19위로 선전했다.
2019년 1월에는 생애 첫 내셔널 타이틀인 호주여자아마추어챔피언십에서 우승을 차지하며 LPGA 투어의 ISPS Handa VIC Open, ISPS Handa 호주 여자오픈 참가권을 얻어 VIC Open에서는 로우 아마추어상을 수상하였다.
2019년 10월 LPGA Q-School 2차전을 공동4위로 통과하였으나 나이제한으로 3차 최종전 Q시리즈에는 진출하지 못해 2020년 시메트라 투어 풀시드에 전념할 예정이다.
홍예은은 강한 트레이닝을 기반으로 뛰어난 체력을 보유하고 있으며 비거리는 이미 다른 탑 프로 선수들과 나란히 할 수 있는 수준에 이르렀다. 비거리 및 정확성이 본인의 장점이다.
실력도 좋지만 인성 좋고 예의 바른 프로로 남고 싶다는 홍예은은 "차분하고 들뜨지 않게 플레이 하는 정신력”을 자신의 장점으로 생각하고 사회에 환원하는 좋은 롤모델이 되고 싶어한다.
2020년 미국 시메트라 투어 전념하는 홍예은은 개막전 Florida Natural Charity Classic에서 공동3위의 호성적으로 내년 LPGA투어 풀시드 획득을 목표로 힘찬 발걸음을 내딛었다.
