The 16-year-old is New Zealand’s female rep at the R&A Junior Open — an under-16 international event held every two years just before, and close by, The Open.
This year’s tournament, attracting 120 golfers, is being held at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club, on the outskirts of Troon, from July 15 to 17 — the following day the competitors get to watch the first day of The Open at the Royal Troon Golf Club.
Yoonae and NZ’s best U16 boy, Christchurch’s Cooper Moore, make up the NZ team.
Yoonae, who won the U16 NZ girls’ title in 2022 and will be Otago’s no.1 woman this year, comes from South Korea and took up golf when she and her family moved to Queenstown about seven years ago.
Her coach all this time, Ben Gallie, the teaching pro at Arrowtown’s Millbrook Resort, has been preparing her for possible windy conditions as she’ll be playing a links course.
Her game’s "probably the best I’ve seen it for a wee while", he says.
"We’ve made a little game recently — see how many birdies you can make, and not worry about bogeys.
"The determination is pretty good, the work ethic’s ridiculous — she’ll work harder than anyone else."
Yoonae — who’s been with correspondence school Te Kura since last October to give her more time on the course — says what she most likes about golf is "the fun in making birdies".
Just two weeks ago, the Futures Whakatipu member equalled the women’s yellow-tees course record at Queenstown’s Kelvin Heights with a 5-under par 68 featuring eight birdies and an eagle — matching local Sumin Kang’s record set in 2019.
Yoonae confirms her ultimate aim is to turn pro.
Meantime, she first flies to Auckland this Sunday for a junior training camp before heading to Scotland.
