Twenty-one golfers join 2009 LPGA Tour for their rookie season
This week is the first in a five-part series highlighting the new year's class
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The 2009 LPGA Tour rookie class is comprised of 21 'rookies,' who have some very veteran experience. Representing six countries outside the United States with 15 international members and six members hailing from five U.S. states, the class is as diverse as they are talented.
This week is the first of five weeks highlighting snapshots of each rookie in the run up to the first official 2009 LPGA Tour event, the SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
| Chella Choi (Choy) Country: South Korea Turned professional: January 2008 Priority List Category: 11 In her first year on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2008, Chella Choi recorded 10 top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Bright House Networks Open. A member of the Korean National Team in 2006, Choi won the Korean Junior Championship that same year. Off the course, the 18-year-old Choi enjoys reading books and going to CYWorld. |
| Song Yi Choi (Song Yee Choy) Country: South Korea Turned professional: March 2007 Priority List Category: 17 Song Yi Choi was a two-year member of the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2007-08, earning 10 top-10 finishes during that span. The 23-year-old was a member of the Korean National Team from 2002-05, and won the 2001 and 2003 Korea Junior Golf Championships. Before turning professional, she won the 2004 Taiwan Amateur Championship and the University Volvik Championship. Choi finished sixth on the 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour season-ending money list to earn Priority List Category 17 for the 2009 LPGA season. In her spare time, Choi enjoys playing the piano, playing the drums and fishing. |
| Tania Elosegui (TAH-nee-ah Eh-LO-se-gee) Country: Spain Turned professional: November 2005 Priority List Category: 16 Tania Elosegui's amateur career included gold and bronze medals at the 2000 Mediterranean Games, a runner-up finish at the 2000 European Individual Championship, and was a bronze medalist at the 2002 World Amateur Championships. Elosegui won five gold medals from 1999-2005 while representing Spain at the European Team Championships In 2007, Elosegui won the Telkom Women's Classic on the Ladies African Tour and, on the 2008 Ladies European Tour (LET), she recorded seven top-10 finishes, including three runner-up marks. Elosegui, 26, enjoys snowboarding, going to the beach, skateboarding, kitesurfing, music and playing tennis. |
| M.J. Hur Country: South Korea Turned professional: December 2007 Priority List Category: 9 Hur competed on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2008 and won the Louisiana Pelican Classic, while finishing in the top-10 eight other times. A member of the Korean National Team in 2005 and 2006, Hur won the individual and team competition at the Korea National Team Festival. In 2006, she won the individual title at the Queen Sirit Cup Asia-Pacific tournament and was a member of the third-place team. As an amateur, the 19-year-old tied for sixth at the 2006 KOLON· Hana Bank Championship. Hur finished fourth on the Duramed FUTURES Tour season-ending money list to earn Priority List Category 9 for the 2009 LPGA season. Other than playing golf, Hur enjoys going out to eat with friends and playing video games. |
Topics: Choi, Chella, Choi, Song Yi
