Seoul, Korea: Just over a week after her 16th birthday, Oh Soo-min finished ahead of defending champion Minjee Lee, world number two Lilia Vu, and a host of other LPGA stars at the BMW Ladies Championship.
Claiming a share of 23rd place, in an elite field of 78 top players, was further proof that the Korean schoolgirl is destined to be the next superstar from a country overflowing with talented young golfers.
It was a big step up from Oh’s 64th place finish at the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship, and continued a remarkable run of results this year.
In her previous outing before doing battle with the LPGA’s finest, Oh travelled to Canada for the World Junior Girls Championship – and romped to an eight-shot victory.
It was a result that surprised Oh, even though it was an event she had targeted after finishing third last year.
Her preparation this time was far from ideal, as she played in a Korean LPGA event – the Hana Financial Group Championship – the previous week, made the cut, and had to hit the ground running after flying straight to Canada when the final round was over.
“It was the first time I had ever done that, flown straight from Korea to another country and played a couple of days after arriving. So I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
“I felt it was a tournament I could win after finishing so close in 2023. But I did not know if I would be affected by jet-lag, or by tiredness from playing 72 holes against strong opposition.
“But I opened with rounds of 69, 68 and 68, and it was good to have such a big lead towards the end of the tournament so I could relax a bit and enjoy it.”
Oh did not relax too much. She closed with another 69 to put daylight between herself and the rest of the field.
It was her fifth win of an incredible year. She started that run by taking the individual title at the Queen Sirikit Cup in New Zealand in March, where she also led Korea to yet another team triumph.
Oh followed up by winning the Dolmen Cup Amateur Golf Championship on home soil in her next start, and went on to complete the double of Korean Women’s Amateur and Korean Junior victories.
She started the BMW Ladies Championship at Seowon Hills in Paju last week by breaking par in each of the first three rounds. She shot scores of 69, 69 and 70 before closing with a level-par 72.
Oh was eight-under for the week and proved she can more than hold her own in the very best professional company.
One of her few disappointments this year came at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) where she was touted among the pre-tournament favourites but ended in a share of 26th place at Siam Country Club in Thailand.
Currently 15th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Oh is sure to be among the favourites again when the seventh edition of the WAAP is staged at Vietnam’s Hoiana Shores Golf Club in March, 2025 – assuming she’s still an amateur.
So how much longer will it be before she turns professional?
She replied: “I do want to play professionally one day. Tournaments like this are a wonderful experience, and I feel so honoured just to be playing on the same course as many of the best players in the world.
“I think I have exceeded my hopes and expectations for this year by winning so many tournaments, and playing well in professional tournaments.
“But there is no rush. I still enjoy school, and playing in amateur events, and there is an age limit of 18 imposed by the LPGA and the Korean LPGA.
“They can grant exemptions, but usually you have to win a professional event first for that to happen. So we will see what the future holds.”
That future looks certain to be a bright one for one of Asia’s most exciting young talents.
*Article by David Facey
