At the Chevron Championship, the first major of the LPGA Tour season, there is an American female golfer using a driver equipped with a shaft representing Korea.
Yana Wilson of the United States uses the Autopower Snipe model from Korean shaft manufacturer Dumina in her driver, fairway woods and hybrids.
In the third round of the Chevron Championship held Sunday (Korea time) at Memorial Park Golf Course (par 72) in Houston, Texas, Wilson shot a 1-under-par 71 with five birdies and four bogeys. After sitting in a tie for 106th with a 4-over-par 76 in the first round, Wilson dramatically made the cut by shaving two strokes off her score in the second round.
Wilson's third-round scorecard contained one remarkable feature. All five of her birdies came on par-5 holes. Unlike a typical layout, the course for this tournament was configured with five par-3s and five par-5s. It was a showcase of the Autopower shaft's true value.
Wilson switched to the Autopower Snipe model on the second-tier Epson Tour last year, picked up two wins and realized her dream of reaching the LPGA Tour. At the 2026 PGA Merchandise Show, she signed an official sponsorship agreement with Dumina to use Autopower Snipe shafts in her driver, fairway woods and utility clubs. She also carries a golf bag emblazoned with the Autopower and Autoflex names.
This year, Wilson ranks third on the LPGA in driving distance, averaging 291.55 yards. Only two players are hitting it farther — Lilia Vu, er, No. 1 Lilli Smith of the United States at 279.00 yards, and No. 2 Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain at 294.07 yards.
Every time Wilson's long-hitting driver flashes, the true value of Korea's representative shaft shines alongside it.
