Ohio State women’s golfer In Hong Lim arrived in the United States three short years ago.
Born in South Korea, the OSU junior started golfing in the second grade because her dad wanted her to be more active, Lim said. At first, she didn’t play competitively, but about three years after she began golfing, Lim started entering tournaments.
Lim became progressively better and her parents and she decided that moving to Australia would be beneficial for her golf career.
“My parents wanted me to learn English, too,” Lim said.
Lim’s high school, Ashwood Secondary School, was very small and did not have varsity sports, so she competed in golf as an individual, entering tournaments on her own.
She knew that she wanted to come to the U.S., so toward the end of her high school career she hired a recruiting agency to help her send out resumes and film of her on the golf course, Lim said.
Shortly after sending her information out, OSU coach Therese Hession contacted Lim about the possibility of playing golf at OSU. Hession called her weekly and they would talk for at least an hour-and-a-half, Lim said. Hession showed the most interest in her, so Lim committed to the Buckeyes.
When she was 19, Lim flew into Los Angeles by herself, stepping foot in the U.S. for the first time.
When she made it to OSU she was surprised to see how big it actually was, Lim said.
“The transition was hard, but my teammates were really there for me and they helped me out so much,” Lim said.
Her freshman spring season did not go as planned — she suffered a stress fracture in her back, but she managed to play in some of the early tournaments, proving herself as having “all the fundamentals,” Hession said.
Hession has seen a tremendous improvement in Lim’s golf game, mental game and confidence since her freshman year.
“She is a brave young lady and wherever she goes there is always an adventure,” Hession said.
Hession described one of her adventures, which involved Lim flying back to OSU after winter break of her freshman year. Lim had a six-hour layover in Honolulu, Hawaii and took a bus by herself to Waikiki to check out the beach. Her next layover was in Las Vegas, where Lim took a cab from the airport to the strip and just walked up and down, exploring.
Lim has also seen improvement in herself since her freshman year and is happy with where she is now.
“A new poll just came out and we are ranked 13th in the nation, and I am ranked 93rd,” Lim said.
After college, Lim, a third-year in nutrition, wants to try to join the LPGA.
“She has a great shot, she just needs a little bit more time here, then she’ll be ready,” Hession said.
Before thinking about going pro, Lim is focused right now on the upcoming Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational on OSU’s home course, which takes place April 17-18.
“I’m so excited to play at home,” said Lim, the defending champion of the tournament.
