Shin eligible to join KLPGA Hall of Fame

By Yoon Chul

Leading Korean female golfer Shin Ji-yai claimed a wire-to-wire victory in the KLPGA Championship with a 12-under 276, Sunday.

With this victory Shin, the LPGA present money leader, has met the requirements to enter the KLPGA Hall of Fame.

Pak Se-ri and Ku Ok-hee have both been inducted into the hall, which was created in 2004, and Pak, an LPGA hall of famer, was the youngest KLPGA member at 30 in 2007.

In Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Shin, who started the final round as the leader at 10-under, had four birdies with two bogeys in the KLPGA Championship – one of the four KLPGA major tournaments.

The 22-year-old’s latest trophy is her 20th triumph as a professional (one victory as an amateur) in the KLPGA and she collected all five points to give her the 100 required to enter the Hall of Fame.

Only KLPGA members who amass 100 points and play for at least ten years qualify.

The young golfer will be named in the KLPGA Hall of Fame in 2015 as its youngest entrant.

Shin, made her debut in the KLPGA in November 2005, and grabbed three titles along with the rookie of year award in 2006. In 2007 Shin set a new record with 10 titles and she again reigned in the KLPGA in 2008 with seven titles.

“As I have lifted trophies in Korea for a long time, I am really happy,” Shin said.

“The only thing I needed was victory in this tournament,” Shin, who decided to donate all 140 million won prize money to charity, said.

Meanwhile Choi Na-yeon, the current No. 4 on the LPGA money list, shared third with a 7-under 281.