South Korean superstar Jiyai Shin claimed victory at the LET/ALPG co-sanctioned ActewAGL Canberra Classic at Royal Canberra Golf Club back in February this year and recently announced that she will donate her prize money of $22,500 to the ALPG to put towards its ALPG Next Generation Rookie Camp and other Development initiatives.
During the ActewAGL Canberra Classic, Shin, who is a great sports fan herself spent time chatting with ALPG patron Dawn Fraser and learned about the ALPG’s Next Generation Rookie Camp and what ALPG was doing to assist its rookies and younger members.
Shin commented: “I love coming to Australia at the beginning of the year. I feel so welcome and everyone I meet is so caring and passionate about women’s golf and growing the game. I know what it is like to be a young player with a goal to play golf professionally. When I was just starting out and playing in South Korea, I was very lucky to have the support and guidance of some wonderful people. I know that support has helped me have such a wonderful career and I am always thankful for that.
“Every day, I am grateful for what I have been able to do and when I saw and heard what the ALPG is doing for young women players here, I wanted to give my support and give something back. “
ALPG CEO Karen Lunn said she was humbled by Shin’s gesture. “I really can’t thank Jiyai enough not only for this incredible gesture but for the support she gives to ALPG on an annual basis. This exceptional young woman who is a former world number 1, two-time major winner and winner of 50 International professional tournaments on the world’s major tours all before her 30th birthday, is truly a credit to our sport and all those who play it. Jiyai really is an incredible champion on and off the course and a very humble and generous young woman.”
“In January this year, we held our first Next Generation Rookie Camp at Ballarat Golf Club. We had 16 of our members attend the camp including four of our international members, and they all enjoyed the experience immensely, learning from ALPG stars Shani Waugh, Jennifer Sevil, Julia Boland, Stacey Peters, Cathryn Bristow and Mardi Lunn, Osteopath Adam Olarenshaw, PGA representative Nick Bielawski and Karrie Webb who skyped in from her home in Florida. The feedback following on from the camp and during our 2018 ALPG Tour has all been incredibly positive about the lessons our members learned and the knowledge they gained at the camp, and to have Jiyai’s support of this initiative is obviously a huge boost.”
Lunn said when she spoke to Shin to thank her she replied: “It’s no problem; I got what I wanted, which was the trophy!” It was the 50th of her impressive professional career.
It is no secret that the Korean loves competing in Australia, having won the Australian Open back in 2013, the Ladies Masters in 2016 and now the 2018 ActewAGL Canberra Classic.
Shin currently competes full-time on the lucrative Japan LPGA Tour and enjoys spending time in Australia in her off-season with her trainer Queensland based former Olympian Richard Nizielski.
