`Day of Sorenstam Sisters` in Japan and in Korea

Older sister Annika smiled in Japan, and younger sister Charlotta shouted for joy in Korea.

In the final match of the Cisco World Ladies Match Play Championship (purse 960,000 dollars), Pak Se-Ri suffered a regrettable come-from-behind defeat to Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) at Sosei CC, Narita City, Chiba, Japan. With this loss, Pak blew out a chance to achieve a triple crown (wins, money, and player of the year).

When Pak won the four holes until the sixth hole, the match looked all but over. However, Pak lost the four straight holes from the eighth to scratch the lead. And in the last par-5 15th hole, Pak`s tee shot dropped under the tree only to record a par. On the other hand, Sorenstam birdied in the same hole to jump on Pak by one shot.

Pak struggled to set back the match in the rest three holes, but she could not overcome one shot difference due to Sorenstam`s stable play.

With this win, Annika Sorenstam recorded 7th victory in this season, 2 wins up Pak Se-Ri (5 wins).

And exceeding about 20,000 dollars in the money ranking and 70 points in the player of the year race over Pak Se-Ri, Sorenstam actually clinched the triple crown.

Meanwhile, younger sister Charlotta Sorenstam won the 3rd Hyundai Securities Women`s Open (purse 300 million won) title at the Pinxs GC, Cheju with a three-under par 213, shaking off the last spurt of Kim Mi-Hyun (KTF), the second consecutive title chaser in this event, by three shots in the final round.

ysahn@donga.com