Description:
Shin Ae Ahn moved to New Zealand when she was nine, and took up the game of golf shortly thereafter. While in New Zealand, she was known as Sharon Ahn. Ahn compiled an impressive amateur record while representing New Zealand in various competitions, including the Queen Sirikit Cup. She also won the 2005 New Zealand Women's Stroke Play Championship among other events.
Shin Ae joined the KLPGA tour in 2009 and had a very solid rookie year. She made four top tens including a fifth and finished 21st on the money list. This was good enough to earn her the Rookie of the Year award on tour in 2009.
2010 was Shin Ae Ahn's breakout
Shin Ae Ahn moved to New Zealand when she was nine, and took up the game of golf shortly thereafter. While in New Zealand, she was known as Sharon Ahn. Ahn compiled an impressive amateur record while representing New Zealand in various competitions, including the Queen Sirikit Cup. She also won the 2005 New Zealand Women's Stroke Play Championship among other events.
Shin Ae joined the KLPGA tour in 2009 and had a very solid rookie year. She made four top tens including a fifth and finished 21st on the money list. This was good enough to earn her the Rookie of the Year award on tour in 2009.
2010 was Shin Ae Ahn's breakout season. She won her first event on the KLPGA in late July at the Hidden Valley Women's Open. It looked like superstar So Yeon Ryu had the win locked up when she suddenly made a bogey and double bogey to fall back to Earth. Ahn, meanwhile, shot a 7 under par 65 and established a clubhouse lead of 12 under par. This would hold up for a three shot victory.
Ahn would win again on tour just a few weeks later. After a 4th in her next event, she played the rain shortened High One Resort SBS Charity Women's Open. Like at her first win, she shot a great final round score to seize the lead. This time, she wound up in a playoff with Hyun Hee Moon, but won that on the first playoff hole.
In all, Shin Ae had 8 top tens in 2010 and finished third on the KLPGA money list.
Shin Ae had a much worse season in Korea in 2011. She had a 2nd place finish at the Nefs Masterpiece and a 3rd at the season ending ADT-Caps; but she only had three total top tens, and finished 22nd on the money list. Still, she was far from forgotten: the fans voted her Most Fashionable Player at the season ending KLPGA Awards Show.
Ahn had some good results playing overseas. By far her best tournament outside of Korea came at the Evian Masters in July. She put herself into contention with a first round 67, and ended up finishing tied for 9th. That result alone earned her $67,000. She also made her first cut at a Major when she finished 64th at the US Women's Open.
In 2012, Shin Ae really struggled. She finished 61st on the KLPGA money list, with only one top ten at the very start of the season. She ended the year with two mediocre results to start the 2013 season. She also played a couple of events on the LPGA, but her best finish was only a 59th at the Evian Masters.
Shin Ae made less than 100 million won in 2013 and finished 39th on the money list. She had a couple of top fives, but otherwise struggled. But her name was still very much in the news: there was a rumor she was dating a K-Pop star, and the paparazzi followed her in force. At the end of the season, she signed with new sponsor TaylorMade/Adidas, and was featured prominently on the web wearing their golf clothing in the weeks that followed.
Ahn finished 37th on the 2014 KLPGA money list with about 115 million won earned. She had four top tens during the season, her best finish coming at the year's final Major, the KB Star Championship. She finished 5th there.
Shin Ae had much the same kind of season in 2015 as she had in 2014; once again, she made 4 top tens and played well but not spectacularly the rest of the time. But there was one week where she was on fire, and it resulted in her first win in several years. That win came at the year's second Major, the KLPGA Championship. Ahn put herself into the hunt through three days, then shocked the field with a brilliant 67 on the final day to force a four-way playoff. Ahn made birdie on the second hole, and only little known player Yeun Jung Seo could match her. Ahn made two more birdies, eventually beating Seo on the 4th playoff hole for the Major win.
Ahn finished the year with 266 million won earned, good for 18th on the money list.
Ahn had a weaker season in 2016. She had three top tens, her best finish a 5th at the Honma Golf Classic in late October. She finished 53rd on the money list with a little more than 126 million won earned.
Ahn attended Japanese tour Q-School and managed to earn a limited tour card for 2017. She will probably play mostly on the JLPGA, as even with her status, she should be able to get into more than 20 tournaments.
... (more)
(less)
Tags: Korea (1), Hot (1), Asian (1), Golf (1), Female (1), Pretty (1), Beautiful (1), Brunette (1), Gorgeous (1), Athlete (1), Golfer (1), Legs (1)
My tags:
Add tags
Login
Korea, Republic of
