Anticipate Thanksgiving Day `Nut` Gift

Will `Super Nut` Kim Mi-Hyeon (24, KTF) secure her first win of the season?

In her debut in the 1999 US LPGA, Kim Mi-Hyeon won two games in the first season and one game last year.

Although she has entered 27 tournaments this year, she stopped short of winning three consecutive times, entering the `Top Ten` twelve times without actual victory. Kim Mi-Hyeon was anxious at the thought that she will spend a season without winning as it drew near the end.

September 28, Alabama Mobil Magnolia Glove RT Johns Trail GC (par 72), AFLAC Championship (First Prize 75 million dollars), first round. Kim Mi-Hyeon has four tournaments left in the season including this one. Giving her final shot for the top spot, Kim Mi-Hyon hit 8 birdies, 1 bogie, 7 underpar with 65, and took the lead. Dottie Pepper (US) followed with 5 underpar with 67.

Displaying her brilliant swing, Kim Mi-Hyeon came just shy of tying the course record (8 underpar) set last year by Maria Yors (Sweden) and Sherry Steinhauser (US).

On the day of the tournament, Kim Mi-Hyeon did not miss the green on any hole and her trademark number 7 and 9 wood shots were exquisite. This season, Kim entered the number one spot with 345 birdies and hit birdies on four par 3 holes. The only mark in the jewel was the three puts at the 4th hole (par 5) after getting the ball 4m to the cup in the third shot.

``I was able to maintain a good putting stroke and swing since last week. Although I had the opportunity to hit a birdie at almost every hole, I regret not being able to reduce the amount of swings.``

The other two of the three Korean women troopers, Park Ji-Eun (Yi Hwa University) and Park Sae-Ri (Samsung Electronics) also made a fresh start. Park Ji-Eun`s 275 yard average drive swing led the way to 3 underpar with 69, putting her in the top three with Carrie Webb (Australia), Kelly Robins (US), and Charlotta Solenstam (Sweden). Returning to the tour after only six weeks, Park Sae-Ri entered the Top Ten as number seven with 3 birdies, 1 bogie, 2 underpar.

40, 000 entered the tournament including players who won tournaments from 1999 to the present and honorary club members. The current number 1 player Anika Solenstam (Sweden) did not play in the tournament.

Kim Jong-Seok kjs0123@donga.com