Chun Hyun-jee named among Top 50 LPGA Teachers for third year

Chun Hyun-jee made it on the list of the Top 50 LPGA Teachers for the third year.

The top 50 LPGA Teachers list, announced by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Professionals on Monday, identifies and recognizes the best LPGA instructors from more than 1,800 LPGA certified professionals worldwide.

Chun is the only instructor on the list who is not from North America. Forty-eight out of the 50 members are from the United States, with one Canadian instructor.

Chun debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 1993 and won the Phantom Classic in 1994 before being named Rookie of the Year the same year. Chun qualified as a LPGA Class A member in 2003, becoming the first KLPGA Tour player to qualify.

Chun was the national team head coach for four years, coached golf legend Shin Ji-yai until Shin went abroad to play on the LPGA Tour and taught many other Korean golf favorites like Kim In-kyung, Ryu So-yeon and Noh Seung-yul.

"The LPGA is excited to share this list of our incredibly passionate and experienced golf educators," said Nancy Henderson, the LPGA's Chief Teaching Officer.

"More than 70 percent of our members teach the game of golf for a living and they are dedicated to the advancement of golf through teaching golfers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the game."

On the 50-person list, four new names were added to the Elite category this year.

The Elite category is a distinction made to honor instructors whose experience has reached the pinnacle of the profession. The four new people are Dr. Debbie Crews, Gale Peterson, Carol Preisinger, and Deb Vangellow. They join Lynn Marriott, Kay McMahon, Nancy Quarcelino and Annette Thompson, all of the United States.

All LPGA Top 50 Teachers will be recognized at the LPGA Professionals Rolex Awards Reception at the 2022 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida that is scheduled to run from Jan. 25 to Jan. 28, 2022.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]