Kim Cho-rong (Christina Kim) Warns the `Revolt at the Green`

Kim Cho-rong has proven herself as a big player in the US LPGA Tour season opener `The Welch`s/Fry`s Championship (800,000 dollars in total prize money).`

The 4th and final round was held at Randolph Golf Club (par 70) in Tucson, Arizona on Monday. Despite the burden of being `matched-up in the champion group` with Lorie Kane (Canada), Kim Cho-rong (Christina Kim) started the game favorably with consecutive birdies in the first and second holes. When she got her fourth birdie on the 10th hole, her debut performance was not just a dream.

However, the `fearless rookie` lacked experience in her ability to manage in sticky situations, and could not play at the championship level. This was apparent in frustrated play after missing the 1m and 50 cm -stroke putting on the 12th hole (par 4).

Just as expected, she lost a little composure with her drive on the 13th hole (par 5) into the bunker and second shot into the rough. In the end, she made a consecutive birdie with 3 putts and could not hold, clearly proving that in order for Kim (Christina Kim) to play at level, an exclusive caddie, coach, and strong sponsor are a must.

However, this is not just lucky play for Kim (Christina Kim), who tied for 4th place (17-under-par, 263) with Park Ji-eun (Grace Park, Nike Golf) when she made her debut at one of the regular US LPGA Tour championship.

Kim was born and raised in the US (San Jose, California), grabbed a club for the first time when she was 12 as led by her father, but is a promising player, who garnered 20 wins in amateur play with her natural talent and a lot of practice. In 2001, she participated in one of the majors, the US Women`s Open as a special guest amateur.

The young player dropped out of De Enza Community College and debuted in the pros last year. She went directly to the regular US LPGA Tour without participating in Q School as the second highest prize money winner in the 2nd Division Tour (Future`s Tour).

With the least shots record in play managed by the US Golf Association (USGA) set at the 2001 US Women`s Junior Championship, Kim performs well in the big push recording 8 under par, 62 shots in the third round. Experts are predicting that if she works on details a bit more, she can easily grab a championship cup this season.

Meanwhile, Wendy Doolan from Australia (21-under-par, 259), clinched the come-from-behind championship, though many Korean rookies made it into the lead group such as Kim Young`s tie for 9th place with Karrie Webb (Australia). This may herald the beginning of a Korean placing in the majors.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com