WINDSOR, Calif. — The 144-player field won’t be finalized until March 27, but Yealimi Noh (Concord, California) is one player that fans will see at Windsor Golf Club from April 5-7 for the second edition of the Windsor Golf Classic.
“It’s a great time for professional women’s golf in Northern California between the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in San Francisco and the return of the Epson Tour to Sonoma,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “We are also excited to welcome local talent Yealimi Noh to the field to test her game against the next generation of LPGA Tour stars. This is a great opportunity for residents of the Bay Area to welcome players from over 30 countries compete for their spot on the 2020 LPGA Tour and come cheer on one of their own as she embarks on her professional career through the ‘Road to the LPGA.’”
After verbally committing to UCLA in August 2017, Noh changed course and turned her attention to becoming a professional. She eventually made the leap in January of this year.
A three-time winner on the American Junior Golf Association, the 17-year-old made her professional debut at the 2019 Taiwan Women’s Golf Open—a joint event hosted by the LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) and LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA)—with a solo 53rd result.
“There is lots of hype in bringing the Epson Tour back to Wine Country and having a homegrown talent like Noh only builds the anticipation more,” said Demian Reddy, the Marketing and Sales Director for Windsor Golf Club. “The first week of April can’t come soon enough. We are thrilled to have a talented field compete at Windsor Golf Club for a $150,000 purse.”
Further proof of Noh’s credentials occurred over three consecutive weeks last July when she won the Girls Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.
Although a newcomer to the professional ranks, Noh is no stranger to the big stage, having made two starts on the LPGA Tour in 2018 as an amateur sponsor exemption at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. Until she makes her first start on the Epson Tour in early April, Noh is staying sharp by playing several mini-tour events.
“It means a lot to me to get this sponsor exemption because there wasn’t many events on the calendar entering 2019 since I didn’t compete in Q-School last year,” said Noh. “Being able to play in a Epson Tour tournament is a huge step in my professional career and I hope to play well so I can get into more events this year. I’m very thankful the Epson Tour and Windsor Golf Club recognized me as a candidate and invited me to join the Windsor Golf Classic field. It is also extra special for me to be able to play right near my hometown.”
PLAYER NOTES
Yealimi Noh
- Noh, 17, is a native of Concord, California
- Verbally committed to UCLA in August 2017 before changing course and turning professional in January 2019
- Three-time American Junior Golf Association winner (2017 AJGA Girls Championship and Joanna Winter Arizona Silver Bell Championship, as well as the 2018 AJGA Hana Bank Se Ri Pak Championship)
- Member of the victorious Team USA at the 2017 Junior Solheim Cup and 2018 Junior Ryder Cup, also named the 2018 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year
- Made two starts on the LPGA Tour in 2018 as an amateur sponsor exemption at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship
- Over three consecutive weeks in July 2018, won the Girls Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
- Windsor Golf Classic will mark her first event on the Epson Tour, but made professional debut at the 2019 Taiwan Women’s Golf Open (joint event between TLPGA and KLPGA)
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