As the Epson Tour routes through Pendleton this week for the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, many eyes will be on the tour’s youngest player, Xiaowen Yin. At only 17 years of age, Yin has already secured her LPGA Tour card for 2023.
Yin is currently No. 2 on the money list, having earned $106,216 on the Epson Tour so far, and is the second player to secure a spot in next year’s LPGA Tour.
In July, Yin became the youngest champion of the 2022 Epson Tour season as well as the youngest champion of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, the 13th stop on the 2022 Epson Tour. That win allowed her to take home the tournament’s top prize of $30,000.
Yin grabbed her first career win when the tournament came to a sudden death playoff between her and Gina Kim, 22, who finished first at the Inova Mission Inn Resort & Club Championship tournament, the 8th stop on the Epson Tour.
Yin walked away with her second career win only a week later when she defeated Gabriella Then at the French Lick Charity Classic. Then, who rookied in 2017, is 26 and was in the lead heading into the final 18 but Yin shot 3-under on the final day for the win.
Yin, from Tianjin, China, has established herself as a serious contender and someone to watch. In addition to her wins, she has placed in the top ten on the tour six times.
Yin has never played Wildhorse Golf Course before nor has she played in Oregon. Local golfers will want to watch her keen putting skills in person at this rare opportunity to see professional golfers play competitively in Eastern Oregon.
The public is invited to watch all the talented professional golfers play September 2-4 at Wildhorse Golf Course. Tickets are only $5 per day and can be purchased online at wildhorseresort.com.
The Epson Tour Championship to conclude the 2022 season takes place in Daytona Beach in October.
