Kim Takes Lead at Big Apple Classic

`Kim has made successful changes.`

Kim Mi-hyun (KTF), a Korean LPGA golfer nicknamed `Super Peanut,` had not made one single under-par at the last two tournaments. Ranking about the 30th at the last three tournaments, she apparently was in a slump. Then she made two major changes before the Big Apple Classic opened at Wykagyl Country Club in New York on July 18.

She fired her under-experienced caddie and hired a veteran named Clay. Then she switched her swing style from the upper-blow, which could apply much strain on the back, to the down-blow.

The changes seem to work for Kim. Kim made four birdie putts of 4.5 meter or longer in a 5-under-par 66 that gave her a one-stroke lead over Liz Earley and Silvia Cavalleri with eight players another shot back. With big names like Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Park missing the tournament, she is hoping to grab the LPGA title and win $950,000 this time.

“My goal was 2 to 3 under-pars, and I could do more than that feeling good about short. Having changed the swing style, now I can see more clearly the range and direction. The new caddie is also good to me,” said Kim.

She made 30 puts on average before the game, but the number went down to 27 on the day, including four birdie puts of 4.5m or longer.

After teeing off on the 10th hole, she made a birdie with No. 8 iron shot on the 11th. A 4.5m birdie put was soon followed on the 14th hole. She made a boggy on the 16th with three puts, but offset the mistake with a birdie on the 17th. She continued to make a birdie on 2nd, 4th and 6th holes in the latter part of the day`s game.

Han Hee-won (FILA Korea), who lost the championship last year to another Korean Park Hee-jung, ranked 4th with 4 birdies, 1 boggy and 3 under-pars.

With two under-pars, Park Ji-eun (Nike Golf) and Kim Young (Shinsegae) ranked 12th along with Suzy Whaley, who will compete at next week`s Greater Hartford Open on the PGA Tour. Last year`s champion Park Hee-jung ranked 59th with 2 over-pars.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com