Jeon In-ji to win the LPGA Tour Rookie award

Jeon In-ji (Hite-Jinro) debuted in the KPGA in 2013, but the KPGA Rookie of the Year award went to Kim Hyo-joo (Lotte).

Although she could not be the Tour rookie in Korea, she finally achieved the title in the LPGA, which is the once-in-a-lifetime honor. The LPGA Tour announced on Tuesday that Jeon will claim the LPGA Rookie of the Year award this year regardless of season points she will earn from the remaining six games. She will be the 10th Korean golfer winning the award after Park Se-ri became the first Korean LPGA rookie in 1998. Kim Se-young was the Tour’s rookie last year.

Jeon claimed the winning trophy at the Evian Championship last month, which was her last major competition of the season. “I am very happy to receive the Rookie award and join a legendary list of golfers,” Jeon said. Famous female golfers, including Annika Sörenstam, Karrie Webb, Park Se-ri, Lorena Ochoa, Yani Tseng and Lydia Ko, all became super stars on the field after becoming the LPGA Tour’s rookie.

Jeon will compete in the KEB Hana Championship opening at the Sky 72 Golf Club Ocean Course in Incheon on Thursday. Golf fans are waiting for her first round as she will play against Park Sung-hyun, waiting for her debut in the LPGA next year, and the world No. 1 Lydia Ko.

Jeon and Park played in the same group during the third and fourth rounds at the Evian Championship and this will be their return match just in one month. “I claimed the second place last year at this championship when I participated for the first time," Park said. "As I took a good rest last week, I am in good conditions to expect good results."