A Reversal is Needed... Yoon Ina, Returns to KLPGA Tournament After 11 Months

Last year's queen of the grand prize, Yoon Ina (22, Solaire), is coming back. After about 11 months, she returns to the Korean stage, choosing none other than the 'Jeju Samdasoo Masters', where she lifted the championship trophy last season.

From the 7th, the 12th Jeju Samdasoo Masters (total prize money of 1 billion won), held for four days at the Jeju Cypress Golf & Resort, holds special meaning for Yoon Ina. It was the tournament where she claimed her first victory after completing a long suspension a year ago, and it marked the starting point of her triple crown journey as the domestic tour prize money king, grand prize winner, and lowest stroke award winner.

Yoon Ina expressed her determination by saying, "This tournament is my first title defense and a chance to meet Korean fans after a long time, so I am very excited," adding, "I am focusing on the keyword 'growth' and want to take another step forward through this tournament."

Earlier this year, Yoon Ina advanced to the U.S. stage with high expectations but has yet to achieve significant results. She has participated in 17 LPGA tournaments but has never made it to the top 10, with as many as 7 missed cuts. Her best result was a tie for 14th at the U.S. Women's Open. Compared to this time last year, when she was thirsty for victory after entering the top 10 seven times domestically, the time of trial and error in an unfamiliar environment is getting longer.

Although the concerns in the U.S. are deep, the name value of 'the KLPGA star with the most enthusiastic fandom', Yoon Ina, remains unchanged. The Jeju Samdasoo Masters, just because it is her domestic return match, is raising the tournament's interest level.

Yoon Ina, conscious of the fans' expectations, left a short but strong message, saying, "I will show a good performance to meet the expectations." Whether she can draw an upward trend again with her return to the domestic stage, a 'reversal' starting point is crucial for Yoon Ina.

However, title defense is by no means an easy mission. The most formidable challenger is undoubtedly Bang Sin-sil (21, KB Financial Group). Having won 2 victories in the first half of this season, Bang Sin-sil, who also recorded a runner-up finish in this tournament last year, said, "Reading the wind in Jeju is the most important," and "I will make good use of the experience of preparing for strong winds at last week's British tournament." She challenges for her third win of the season amid evaluations that both her shot sense and condition are not bad.

Go Ji-woo (23, Samchully), who is aiming for her first victory in her hometown of Jeju, is also determined. Having recently reported her first win of the season, she said, "Because it is a sponsor tournament held in my hometown, I am greedy," and "I am confident because I also did field training on this course before."

Also, Park Hyun-kyung, Lee Dong-eun, Kim Min-seon7, Noh Seung-hee, and Park Hye-jun, who have each reached the top once during the season, will participate. Past winners of this tournament, such as Park Sung-hyun and Ji Han-sol, will also compete, aiming for their second victory. They are all realistic competitors to stop Yoon Ina's title defense.

The reason fans are paying attention is not just because of Yoon Ina's 'name value'. Last year's tournament, where she returned after a 1 year and 6 months suspension and won, was not just a single victory but a symbol of 'recovery and rebound'. This return match could also be a decisive turning point in her career on the same stage.

Yoon Ina showed confidence by saying, "My physical strength and condition are good," and "I want to show a more grown-up appearance at a tournament with good memories." Whether it can be a 'stage of resurgence', not just a simple defense, like the day she wiped her tears and celebrated her victory here last year, golf fans' attention is focused. jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporterjsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter