Between two super rookies…’oozing presence’ reserve Kim Min-sol

A ‘reserve rookie’ born in 2006 showed off his ‘assertive’ game between two ‘super rookies’. That would be 17-year-old amateur Kim Min-sol (Doosan E&C).

It was the first round of the Doosan E&C Weave Championship (1.2 billion won in prize money) on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour at Teddy Valley Golf and Resort (Par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju, on Nov. 11. Between rookie of the year contenders Hwang Yoo-min (20) and Bang Shin-sil (19) and high school sophomore Kim Min-sol, three of the future stars of Korean women’s golf were in the same group.

With one win apiece on the season and an average driver distance of around 260 yards, the duel between Hwang and Bang was the center of attention, but when the lid was lifted, golf fans were distracted by the spectacular performance of Kim Min-sol, who entered as a featured player.

Kim Min-sol, who will compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games next month, is an up-and-coming golfer who hopes to break into the regular tour in 2025. Last year, she was tied for second (and eventually tied for 10th) at the BMW Ladies Championship, a domestic event on the U.S. Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, and tied for fourth at the Korea Women’s Open in June, confirming her super-rookie status.

Kim, who uses her 5-foot-11 frame to hit the ball as far as the KLPGA Tour’s longest hitter, Bang Shin-shil, found the fairway with a 262-yard tee shot on the par-5 fourth hole. She had to hit it over water to reach the green. With his second shot, Kim traveled 233 yards for a two-on and a five-foot eagle putt. On the eighth hole (par-5), he hit a 270-yard tee shot to cut another stroke. One eagle, one birdie and two bogeys for 1-under par (tied for 38th). His second shot on the last hole was too big and he made bogey, but he managed to stay under par on an unfamiliar course. The same caddie who carried Bang Shin-sil’s golf bag for her first win is carrying Kim Min-sol’s bag for this tournament. “It was my first time playing with my two older sisters, who are seniors in the national team, so it was exciting and fun. I’ve been watching their every shot, so I’ll always keep them in mind.”

Hwang Yoo-min, who leads the rookie points standings, tied for sixth at 4-under par with six birdies and two bogeys to boost her hopes of a second win of the season. Bang Shin-sil, who has been struggling with her tee shots, started the day at 2-over after several shaky shots. 꽁머니지급

Lee So-young and Jeon Ye-sung are tied for the lead at 6-under par. Lee birdied four straight holes, while Jeon eagled from 151 yards. Lee was also 6-under after the first day at last week’s tournament, but finished tied for third. With six career victories in “even” years, he will be looking for his first win in an odd-numbered year. “The grass is very different from other golf courses. It’s very important not to go into the rough,” he said. Teddy Valley hosted a KLPGA Tour event for the first time in 15 years. Unusually for a Korean golf course, the fairways and rough are 100 percent Bermuda grass, which makes a big difference in shot results on the back nine. Kim Hae-rim, who finished in a tie for third place at 5-under par, said, “If you hit from the backgrass, even from the fairway, you can’t get a good distance. You need to be extra careful.”

Park Min-ji, making her first appearance on the Korean Tour in nearly a month after traveling to the LPGA Tour’s Evian Championship, traded a birdie for three bogeys to shoot even par. “I’m determined to add three more wins, whether it’s this year or next year,” said Park, who has 18 career wins and is looking to break the tour’s record for most wins (20). The tournament is a three-round, 54-hole event after the 10th was canceled due to typhoon conditions.