Second-year LPGA Tour member Mi Hyang Lee stands a modest 5’2” and doesn’t fit the bill physically of long driver off the tee. But the South Korean knew coming into the 2013 season that she would need to gain some yards in her drives to compete on Tour this year. Lee said some off season strength training paid off and helped her to a strong start, a 7-under 66 in Thursday’s first round.

“I have a trainer for the first time lifting weights,” said Lee. Asked if she enjoys the new regime she said she likes the results, but the process is a challenging one. “It's hard, and tiring, but very good.”

Lee has been working with South Carolina-based trainer Ken Taylor since December and said the hardest comes when Taylor loads on the weight for short reps.

Lee earned Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year honors last season on the Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s developmental tour, and averaged 248.5 yards last year. That would have ranked her 74th in average driving distance on the LPGA in 2012. She’s looking forward to the extra distance this year as well as achieving some of the goals she’s set out for her second year on Tour.

“I want the top 50 (on the money list),” said Lee. “So I want to play in the Korean event (KEB HanaBank Championship). I want to also play the Kraft Nabisco Championship.”

Topics: Alumnae in the News, Mi Hyang Lee