HE YONG CHOI

The Facts

Capsule Bio

Hye Yong Choi was one of three Korean girls representing South Korea in golf at the Asian Games in 2006. The Games take place every four years, like the Olympics. Virtually every sport imaginable is played at these games, including sports like golf that are not part of the Olympic games. Countries from all over Asia field teams.

In 2002, the Japanese junior sensation Ai Miyazato won the individual gold in the women's golf event. In 2006, South Korea dominated. Choi's teammate So Yeon Ryu won the individual gold. Choi finished third to capture the bronze, and also was part of the gold medal winning team along with Ryu.

Choi had some success as an amateur playing professional events. In 2007, she did well at the British Open, although a third round 83 knocked her out of the top 20. Early in June, she made a big splash at the KLPGA's Hill State Seokyung Open. In fact, after two rounds, she was the leader, and on Sunday found herself in a fight with Hee Young Park, Sun Ju Ahn, Eun Hee Ji and Ji Yai Shin, the top four players on the KLPGA! Not surprisingly, Shin won, but Choi wound up tied for third, a great result considering the competition.

Galleries

She also continued to excel in amateur golf. In 2007, she and Ryu powered the Korean squad to a mind boggling 20 stroke victory in the Queen Sirikit Cup, a women's amateur team stroke play golf event featuring 13 teams from Pacific Rim countries. Ryu also won individual honors with a 12 under par total for the week, with Choi finishing second at 6 under, 6 shots ahead of the third place girl. It was Korea's 10th win in 30 stagings of the event.

Ryu and Choi both turned pro at the end of 2007, and both joined the KLPGA tour as rookies in 2008. Once there, the two waged a pitched battle for Rookie of the Year all season. Ryu drew first blood by capturing an early win, but Choi collected two second place finishes in her first four starts to keep things close.

Choi looked like she would finally capture her maiden win at the KLPGA's Match Play Championship. She made it all the way to the finals, but lost to a largely unheralded player named Bo Kyung Kim. It was her third second place finish of the season.

Choi finally got that win at the Lotte Mart championship a few weeks later. She followed that up with another second place finish, and looked poised to overtake Ryu. But after that, she had a number of off weeks, and Ryu was once again able to solidify her lead in the rookie race.

But in October, Ryu started to slump, and Choi surged. She made a huge comeback at the Interburgos Masters to capture another second place, finished fourth at the Hite Cup, then finished second the following week at the year's third Major, losing to Ji Yai Shin in a two hole playoff. At that event, Choi shot a mid boggling 64 in extremely tough conditions to set the record for lowest score ever shot by a rookie on the KLPGA tour (breaking Hee Young Park's old mark). Her runner up finish also moved her ahead of Ryu in the Rookie standings. She eventually won that title in the final event of the season.

At the KLPGA Awards Show, she not only picked up the Rookie of the Year trophy, she also joined four other star golfers in a dance number on stage (!). Soon thereafter, the KLPGA's 2009 season started with the Ladies China Open. Choi proved she would be tough in her sophomore year by capturing the title, her second on tour.

As it turned out, however, 2009 was not so great a season for Choi after that early win. She did collect 5 top tens for the year on the KLPGA, and finished 6th on the money list, but really only contended a few times all year. Her best chance to win after China came at the Doosan Match Play. Like in 2008, she made it all the way to the final. Her final opponent was none other than arch rival Ryu. They had a match for the ages. Tied after 18 holes, it took 9 playoff holes to finally settle things. In the end, after more than 7 hours of play, Ryu won, and would go on to win 4 times on the season.

Choi did have two bright spots outside of Korea in 2009. She finished third at the Australian Women's Open, and tied for 26th at the US Women's Open, her best Major finish to date.

In 2010, Choi continued to search for her next victory to no avail. She finished just 24th on the KLPGA money list with 4 top tens on the season. In the Fall, she went to Japan's LPGA Qualifying School, where she snagged a card on that tour for 2011.

Choi played a full schedule on the KLPGA in 2011 despite having JLPGA membership. She was not able to win, but did produce a runner up finish and three 4th places. She finished 8th on the tour's money list.

Choi's 2012 was mediocre. She finished 30th on the money list with about 110 million won earned. Though she made all but one cut, she had only three top tens, all in the first half of the year. Choi did worse in 2013, finishing only 62nd on the money list. Choi played the Dream Tour in 2014 and 2015.

In 2016, Choi returned to the KLPGA full time. She had a so-so season, finishing 65th on the money list with about 84 million won earned. Her best finishes all year were a pair of 8th place finishes, her only top tens. Choi did a little better in 2017, finishing 55th on the money list with around 114 million won earned. Her best finish was a 6th place.

In 2018, Choi finished 51st on the KLPGA money list with 135 million won earned. She had three top tens, with her best finish a third place. She also played at the LPGA's Mediheal event, where she finished tied for 58th.

In 2019, Choi finished 72nd on the KLPGA money list with around 76 million won earned. Her best finish was a 19th place at the Lotte Cantata. She once again played the LPGA's Mediheal, finishing tied for 47th. She was reduced to playing on the Dream Tour for 2020, but earned her way back to the KLPGA for 2021.

He Yong had a modest 2021 season. She finished 77th on the money list with 86 million won earned. Her best finish was a 14th. She maintained partial status on the KLPGA for 2022.

In 2022, He Yong earned 117 million won, 74th on the money list. Her best finish was an 8th, her only top ten, although she had three additional top 20s including an 11th.

He Yong played on the KLPGA in 2023, but earned only 30 million won, 110th on the money list. Her best finish was a t-12th at the KG Ladies Open. It's not clear if she will have status for 2024.