Jeong to lead Otago into battle

Lannie Inoue plays a shot at the Pegasus Classic. PHOTOS: BWMEDIA

Otago No 1 Yoonae Jeong in action at the Pegasus Classic earlier this year. She will lead the Otago team at the New Zealand women’s interprovincial next week. PHOTO: BW MEDIA

A cure for childhood boredom has carved quite the path for Yoonae Jeong.

She first held a golf club when she was 3, but a family holiday to Bali five years later — where the South Korean-born golfer struggled to speak English with the children at the resort — had Jeong asking her parents if she could join them for a round of golf.

It sparked a labour of love for the youngster, who has been Otago’s No 1 golfer for the past two seasons and will lead the province’s team at the New Zealand women’s interprovincial in Ashburton next week.

Jeong, 17, who was born in Seoul, visited Queenstown with her parents in December 2016, and her family returned home, packed up their lives and moved to the resort town four months later.

Living at Jack’s Point, Jeong has become a regular at her now home course, Millbrook, since March 2017, training under the tutelage of Arrowtown professional Ben Gallie.

Jeong, who is studying through Te Kura, the online correspondence school, has worked hard at her craft and has had a rich vein of form in recent years.

She was the New Zealand under-16 champion in 2022, qualified for the New Zealand Amateur final last year and played at the Junior British Open last year.

She also won the Pegasus Classic in October.

Heading into the national interprovincial tournament next week, Jeong felt her form was as solid as ever.

"My routine, mentality and control is at its peak," Jeong said.

"[I’ve] learned a lot the past few years and [I’m] putting it in practice and play. Most importantly, [I’m] still enjoying golf very much and excited for every week."

Otago finished 11th out of 12 teams last year, with four losses and two halves. Jeong was the best Otago player with four wins, a half and a loss from her six matches.

Jeong said Otago will focus on their own game.

"We have got our rising regional young stars, like Sophia Park, Anahera Koni in Dunedin, and Savannah Neal in Queenstown with me, so I believe they will take what they have worked for [and put it] in play," Jeong said.

"I am excited for them to experience and compete against some of the best New Zealand players. Also Tracey Storer, who had been in the team for quite a few years."

Jeong intends to turn professional in the future — "that is my biggest goal and the reason why I am so dedicated" — and will line up at the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January next year.

"I hope to go further in the world, such as the US and Europe."