Yoo looks forward to state repeat

After several trips following her father to the driving range, Kris Yoo took up golf at the age of 8.

At that time, she wasn't exactly captivated by the sport.

"I thought it was boring hitting balls all the time," she said. "I was just a beginner. I took lessons every week because my dad (Jae) wanted me to get better and I wanted to follow my brother (Joshua) who was playing, too."

Yoo got better, all right.

How good?

As a junior at Conant High School, she won the Class 3A state championship.

Now as a senior, she'd love to repeat that feat of a year ago when she became the first Mid-Suburban League female golfer to win a state crown.

"I am looking to defend the title again," she says without hesitation. "That's my top priority right now. I'd really like to win the conference, regional and sectional, too. Without goals, you can't be successful in anything."

Last year, Yoo was third in the MSL meet behind Taylor Quinn of Barrington and Karly Grouwinkel of Prospect, who also return as juniors this fall.

"Kris is focused, determined and respectful," said Cougars coach Diana Johanneson. "She is so helpful to anyone. It's not just about herself. Her spiritual level is very deep and that carries her a lot."

"I pray to God to help me a lot," Yoo said of her Christian upbringing. "My dad has been my biggest help in golf. He started playing the game in his mid-20s, took a few lessons and taught himself a lot. Then he taught me."

An honor roll student, Yoo plans to study secondary education at Wisconsin, where she has made a verbal commitment the Badgers women's golf team.

The Badgers' coach watched Yoo play in some American Junior Golf Association events this past summer and liked what she saw from the Schaumburg resident, who spends most of her time practicing at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates and the Schaumburg Golf Club.

Yoo's brother Joshua, a 15-year-old sophomore, made the Conant varsity boys team this season. Kris, 17, and Joshua teamed up last Tuesday win a co-ed tournament at West Aurora with a score of 74.

Since making Johanneson's varsity team as a freshman, Kris had one goal all along.

"Before high school ended, I wanted to win the state championship," she said. "I promised my dad I would win state in my four years."

She lived up to that promise when she fired a 72 and 74 at the par-72 Stone Creek Golf Club in Makanda last October.

She began this season with a career-best score of a 2-under 68 at the Fox Run Golf Club on Monday in Conant's Early Bird tourney.

Two of Yoo's favorite pro golfers are Juli Inkster and the retired Annika Sorenstam.

"I really like the way Juli Inkster is older than most of the players but is still a really good player," Yoo said. "And she is really a family person. And I just really liked how Annika Sorenstam played the game."

Yoo plays the game with a drive that averages about 235 yards. The tee shot is probably her favorite part of the game.

"It just feels good to hit a good drive," Yoo said.

She would like to help drive Conant to a sectional title as a team this season.

"The thing I like best about high school golf is my teammates, coaches and the competition," Yoo said. "I want to be able to play with my team at the sectional.

"My coaches are a lot of help to me. Mrs. (Megan) Hebert and Mrs. (Tammy) Graeme assist me a lot on the golf side of things. Mrs. J (Johanneson) helps me a lot with the mental side of things."

And Yoo has helped put Conant on the Illinois girls golf map.