Chun Mee-chung Sets New Golf Record

With the lowest number of strokes, Chun Mee-chung, a Korean pro golfer, finished up the 18 holes.

It was the second round of Paradise Women`s Invitational, the fifth domestic major for female golfers, which took place yesterday at Lakeside Country Club in Yongin City, Kyunggi Province.

Chun recorded one eagle and nine birdies, and cut down 11 shots in a single day. Consequently, her ranking jumped up from 9th to the top.

Chun was 11-under 61 on that day, setting a new Korean record. No male Korean golfer has recorded the same yet. Sorenstam, however, finished up 18 holes on 59 strokes.

Chun lost all the four previous domestic majors this year. But, she performed what people say a miracle, and put a step closer to winning the championship.

Chun landed the ball on the green on her second shot, and made a 1m eagle in the 15th round. Then, she made a birdie in the 17th and putted a 5m shot in the 18th.

In 2002, or her pro debut year, she won a tournament. Her string statue (175cm and 73 kg) powers her performance. In elementary school, she was a roller skating athlete. But she changed to golf after the back injury in her third year at middle school.

"Rookie" Ahn See-hyun was 12-under 9 and pulled up her ranking form 14th to 2nd. She led the first round, and now ranked at third on 10-under.

In the meanwhile, Goh Woo-sooon, a Korean golfer playing in Japan, got disqualified by wrongly marking her par as birdie.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com