Ruoning Yin’s patience was finally rewarded late in the second round on Friday at the Blue Bay LPGA. Competing in her home country for just the third time since joining the LPGA Tour in 2022, the People’s Republic of China native gave the local fans a moment to remember.

The 23-year-old opened with a strong 4-under 68 on day one to sit two shots off the pace of the 18-hole co-leaders, a first-round effort that saw Yin card one bogey and four birdies on the front nine and eight pars and one birdie on the par-5 18th on her way back into the clubhouse.

Her day-two performance was much quieter until the round progressed, as Yin, starting on No. 10, bogeyed both par 5s on the back nine at Jian Lake Blue Bay Course and only had one birdie on 17 to try and erase those mistakes. Turning in 37 at 3-under overall, the five-time LPGA Tour winner struck again with a birdie on the par-5 third hole, but it wasn’t until No. 7 that Yin would give the local crowd something to emphatically cheer about.

Stepping up to her 151-yard tee shot with an 8-iron in hand, Yin hit a dart right at the flag on the par 3, watched her ball take a few quick hops and then disappear into the hole for her first career ace in five seasons as an LPGA member.

And while a closing bogey that resulted from a missed green on the par-4 ninth hole saw Yin ultimately post at 5-under and barely hang onto her position in the top 10, nothing will ever take away the one she got to tally on her scorecard in front of her home-country contingent, a smattering of fans that included her mom.

“I think the yardage was 153 and a little left-to-right downwind,” Yin explained. “I was like, this is a perfect 8-iron, but like last couple of holes, my swing wasn't really good, so I just really wanted to do my swing. Then I hit a perfect little cut, and I think this is the first one I actually saw it go in. It was pretty special.”

She later continued when asked about how she’d celebrate with her family in the gallery, saying, “My mom was actually screaming. I can hear from like miles away. Probably just going to go grab lunch and maybe celebrate, like mini celebrate for dinner. I'll get them some milk tea.”

Yin will also see a $20,000 donation made on her behalf to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by CME Group as part of their CME Group Cares Challenge – Score 1 for St. Jude campaign. The Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations for childhood cancer treatment and research, and Yin’s hole-in-one marks the first contribution to be made to St. Jude in 2026, a cause the 23-year-old was pleased she could support with just a single golf shot.

“That definitely means a lot,” said Yin. “I mean, ($20,000) is a lot. I hope I can make more hole-in-ones and just help the kids.”

The Blue Bay LPGA marks Yin’s fourth tournament of the 2026 season, and thus far, it’s been a bit of a sluggish start for the young Chinese talent, who tied for 17th at the shortened Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, tied for 15th at the Honda LPGA Thailand and tied for 41st at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

Yin has never finished better than a tie for 33rd at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Course, a performance that, after a controlled start, she is now primed to better over the next 36 holes at the Blue Bay LPGA. Yin is currently six shots behind Mi Hyang Lee, who is at 11-under overall, and the gap that she will need to close over the Republic of Korea native is certainly not chasmic.

And even though she is as hungry as ever to secure that sixth career LPGA Tour title in her home country, what would be her first win the 2024 Maybank Championship, Yin knows that if she stays within herself mentally and physically – just like she did on Friday while dealing with an immense of pressure – the result will ultimately take care of itself.

“I think patience is, I think the key word in golf,” Yin said. “Because golf is just so random. You might hit a good shot, and end up in a divot. Patience is the key, key word my caddie inform me this week. Especially this course is very challenging and the conditions very challenging as well. So I think if I can be patient and just play my game, I think I have a chance.”

Ruoning Yin Records First Hole-In-One of 2026 Season in Home Country at Blue Bay LPGA

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