JENNY SHIN

The Facts

Jenny Shin, like many Koreans, started playing golf while young, then moved from Korea to America to help her budding career. It didn't take her long to make a mark in the States. She won the Los Angeles City Championship at the age of 10, and by the time she was 13, was competing in USGA golf championships.

After competing at the Amateur Pub Links in 2006, Shin entered the US Girl's Junior championship, the biggest event for junior golfers in the country. She was not expecting to go very far in the tournament; in fact, her mother had only reserved their hotel room until the quarterfinals, expecting they would be out of things before then. But Shin kept winning, working her way methodically through the competition. In the semifinals, she struggled with dizziness in the middle of her round, but still managed to win that match to advance to the finals. Her opponent there was Korean American Vickie Hurst, who had downed the top player in the field, Mina Harigae, in her semifinal match.

The final was 36 holes. After 18 holes, they were all tied, but Hurst took a decided advantage at the start of the afternoon session. Hurst, who was outdriving Shin by 40 yards most of the day, went to a 3 up lead after winning three straight holes. On the back nine, Hurst made a couple of mistakes, but still held a 2 up lead with 4 holes to go. She then missed a very short putt on the 33rd hole to give Shin the hole, then missed a very makeable birdie on the 35th hole. Still, she had a one up lead with one hole to play, the match well in hand.

On the final hole, Hurst was on the green in regulation, while Shin had to scramble to make par. Hurst had two putts to win it, but finished the hole with a three putt; thus Shin won the hole and tied the match, forcing a playoff. On that first playoff hole, a shell shocked Hurst made a mess of it, and ended up conceding the match to the stunned 13 year old Shin. Shin thus became the second youngest golfer in history (after Aree Song) to ever win this event. It was only her second ever Girl's Junior competition.

In 2008, Shin lost in the finals of the Polo World Golf Championship to Korean amateur Jung Min Lee. She continued to play well throughout 2008 and 2009, making the AJGA All American First team squad in 2009 for the third straight time.

Shin turned pro in 2010 and joined the Futures Tour. She made 7 top tens during the season, improving gradually through the year. After an 8th place at the Tate & Lyle Championship, her first top ten, she made a 2nd, then a a 4th, then won her first event as a pro when she captured the International at Concord in July. Three more top tens in her final four events allowed her to finish 4th on the year ending money list, which earned her full status on the LPGA tour in 2011.

Shin had a decent rookie season on the big tour. She achieved two top tens and made over $160,000 in earnings. She finished 4th in the Rookie of the Year race. This gave her top status for 2012.

Jenny Shin had a far better 2012 season. She started the year with three straight top tens, but it was at the third event, the HSBC Women's Champions, where she had her first great chance to win. Indeed, she had the lead with a hole to play when a long rain delay hit at the worst possible time. When she returned to the course, she promptly hit her drive into the trees. Shin wound up in a four way playoff, and outlasted Shanshan Feng and Na Yeon Choi before losing to the final contestant, Angela Stanford.

Shin ended up making more than twice her 2011 money with $447,000, good for 30th on the money list. She notched five top tens. She definitely became a player to watch thanks to her play in 2012.

In 2013, she continued her good play, but at a slightly lower pace than 2012. She still made $332,000 and finished 43rd on the money list, but had only one top ten. That came at the ShopRite Classic, where she finished 4th. She also managed a tie for 17th finish at the British Open in 2013, the same place she had finished the previous year at that event!

Jenny took a quantum leap forward in 2014, having easily the best season of her career. She made by far the most money she had ever made, over $700,000, which put her 21st on the money list, her best ever position. She improved her best scoring average by a full stroke, beating 71 for the first time. She had several strong Majors: a 10th at the US Women's Open, a 13th at the LPGA Championship and a 20th at the Evian. She also notched 6 top tens, a new record for her. Her best result was a solo third at the Swinging Skirts.

Jenny's 2015 season was a little less impressive than 2014, but it was still quite good in its own right. She had three top tens during the season and made over $600,000. That was good for 26th on the money list. Her best results were a solo fourth in Japan and a tie for 4th at the Australian Women's Open. She also had a good year at the Majors, notching top 20s in two and top 30s in two others; her best finish was a tie for 11th at the ANA Inspiration.

Jenny also qualified for the ING team match between the LPGA and KLPGA at the end of the year. She won her singles match against Seon Woo Bae, but split her two team matches.

In 2016, Shin finally broke through with her first career win. That came at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout in April. She also managed four other top tens during the season. Her money list position was 27th with $630,584 earned. Not quite her best totals, but close to them.

Jenny also competed at the ING Champions again, representing the LPGA team. Jenny lost when teamed with Hyo Joo Kim 2 down to Hee Won Jung and Cecilia Cho, and lost when teamed with Amy Yang against Ji Hyun Kim and Min Sun Kim 2 & 1. Jenny also lost her singles match against Ji Hyun Kim 6 & 5.

Jenny had a good 2017 season. She earned about $515,000, and finished 36th on the money list. She did not win, but she had her best ever Major finish, a solo 6th at the Women's British Open.

Jenny also played at the year ending ING Champions on the LPGA team. She tied one match and lost the other two.

Jenny had a slightly less impressive season in 2018 than in 2017. She finished 53rd on the money list with around $420,000 earned. Her best result came early: a tie for 2nd at the HSBC. She also had a tie for 6th as her other top ten of the year.

Jenny played for the LPGA team at the OrangeLife Champions trophy event. She teamed with Mi Hyang Lee to square her match against Jeong Eun Lee 6 and Cecilia Cho, then teamed with In Gee Chun to beat Ji Hyun Kim and Ji Hyun Oh. In singles, she lost to Cecilia Cho. The LPGA won the event 13-11, and Jenny won an award for the best first tee celebration: a sexy dance she did to blaring music winning her the prize.

Jenny had another season in 2019 much like her previous one. She finished 45th on the money list with about $464,000 earned. Her best finish was a 4th in Thailand, and a tie for 3rd when teamed with Na Yeon Choi at the Dow Great Lakes team event.

Jenny played for the LPGA team at the OrangeLife Champions Trophy event. She skipped the first day, and teamed with Jeongeun Lee6 to win 1 up over Da Yeon Lee and Hye Jin Choi. She lost singles to Ji Hyun Kim 3 & 1. The KLPGA won 15 to 9.

In 2020, the whole world was rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic. The LPGA and KLPGA tours canceled and postponed many tournaments. Jenny played 12 LPGA events in 2020, missing just one cut. She had a single top ten, a tie for 5th at the NW Arkansas event. She made over $248,000 for the season, 45th on the money list.

In 2021, Jenny earned about $443,000 and finished 47th on the money list. She had 4 top tens. Her best finish was a tie for 5th at the Mediheal. She shot a 63 in the final round of the Lotte in Hawaii to finish tied for 6th.

Jenny earned a little less than $375,000 in 2022, 67th on the money list. She notched three top tens during the year, her best finish a loss in the quarterfinals at the Bank of Hope Match Play (which counted as a fifth place finish). She also finished tied for 6th in her only KLPGA event of the year, the Hanwha Classic.

Jenny had a fantastic year in 2023, making $805,000, the most in her career for a season, and also managing a scoring average of 70.51, breaking a nine year old record for her best average. She didn't get a win, but she had some great results, including a tie for third at the NW Arkansas Championship, a tie for 6th at the ShopRite, and a tie for 8th at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, one of her best ever Major results.

She also played at the Hanwha Classic on the KLPGA, where she finished tied for 15h.