Pak Se-Ri wins season-opening YourLife Vitamins LPGA Classic

Pak Se-Ri, 24, of Astra won the season-opening YourLife Vitamins LPGA Classic in Orlando, Fla., on Monday Korean time, gearing up to repeat her winning streak in 1998 and 1999 on the world stage.

Pak birdied nine of 18 holes and bogeyed one on the way to an 8-under-par 64 in the final round and a total score of 13-under 203, capturing the season¡¯s first tournament at the Grand Cyprus Resort.

Pak claimed her ninth career title in the LPGA tour with the previous being the Page Net Tour Championships in November 1999. She stood at the top of the LPGA tour for the first time in one year and two months.

In the final round, Pak pulled away from Penny Hammel of the United States and Carin Koch of Sweden, who finished as co-runners-up at 9-under 207. Pak¡¯s compatriot Kim Mi-Hyun, 24, who shared third place with Pak the previous day, managed to share 10th place Monday as she suffered consecutive bogeys due to unstable shots and scored 1-over 73 in the final round for a total 3-under 213.