KLPGA Rookie of the Year: Shin Ji-ae

“I get many calls congratulating me on my hard work. I think I’ve had the best year that I could.” It is almost possible to summarize 2006 in Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) by the name of “super rookie” Shin Ji-ai (18, Hi-mart)

At this year’s KLPGA, she held the honor of receiving five awards, which is a record first. She won the grand overall award, the rookie of the year award, as well as the award for winning the most prize money, most wins, and the fewest number of shots. Shin will have her hands full when she holds the five awards and flowers at the award ceremony, which will be held on December 7 at the Imperial Palace Hotel.

Of her many awards, when asked which one would mean the most to her, Shin replied, “Any award is always nice. But I think the rookie of the year award is especially meaningful because I can only receive it once.”

When reflecting on this year, a number of scenes whirl through her mind. Among those, two are particularly fresh. “I was so happy when I won my first professional event at the Korea Womens Open. On the other hand, I was so disappointed when I lost the Hite Cup after a playoff.” She regrets the fact that she could have had an even better record if she had won that championship. But Shin says that she accepts it as a lesson not to be satisfied and strive for a higher goal.

Shin Ji-ai, famous for her long distance shots with an average of 270 yards, focused on reducing her distance and improving the finer details, which proved successful with a high mark of 82.2 percent (first place) for hitting the green. After working for three to four hours every night on improving her weakness, her putting game, Shin was able to raise her average putt per round to third place (30.56 putts).

“I was able to develop strong fortitude, thanks to my father who is a pastor, and my sponsor Hi-mart and pro-golfer Jeon Hyeon-ji, who I have known since I played as a national representative, have also been a great help to me.”

Shin Ji-ai, who lost her mother to a car accident three years ago, has left her two younger siblings to the care of their grandmother in Gwangju, and has been on tour with her father. Being away from her family had always troubled her, so recently with her prize money, she has rented and moved into a 50-pyeong sized apartment near the Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

“It’s good to be able to see my younger siblings often. I always felt sorry (that I wasn’t with them),” Shin said.

The dutiful daughter Shin Ji-ai will not have time to rest even when the season is over. On November 28, she will leave for Japan to take part in the Korea-Japan Professional Womens Golf Competition.

“I will do my best so that the big senior players who play in the U.S. will take to me. We will definitely beat Japan.”

At the beginning of next year, Shin will participate in the South African World Cup Championship, the European Tour ANZ Ladies Masters, as well as the Asian Tour.

A packed schedule awaits her, but she says there is something that she must do.

“I have to visit my mother’s grave in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province. I want to take my trophies. I can just imagine how happy she would be.”

kjs0123@donga.com