Korean Players Get Off to Good Start at Evian

`Don`t be complacent. Don`t be disappointed, either.`

Three out of eight Koreans playing at U.S. LPGA Tour have got off to a good start for the 2003 Evian Masters title, ranking within the top ten. At stake is $2.1 million prize.

In the first round held in the morning of July 24 at Evian GC in France, `Ultra Peanut` Jang Jeong finished 4th with 4 under-pars and 68 strokes, followed by Park Se-ri and Gang Soo-yeon, who tied at 7th with 2 under-pars and 70 strokes.

Rookie of the year candidate Mexican Lorena Ocha and American veteran Julie Ingster tied at the top with 6 under-pars and 66 strokes.

Meantime, last year`s runner-up `Super Peanut` Kim Mi-hyun made an even-par and 72 strokes, finishing 31st, and Park Ji-eun finished 37th with 1 over-par and 73 strokes.

The tournament invites 78 players every year, and all the players compete until the end of the match since there is no cutoff. With the final 18th hole giving high chances of scoring an eagle, in particular, competition heats up until the last moment.

Although Annika Sorenstam, who won last year and aims for the third Evian title this time, ranked 31st in the first round, no one knows when she will come forward to catch up leaders. Last year, in fact, she made 7 under-pars in the third round and jumped to the first place to win the title.

For the same reason, hopes remain high for Park Se-ri, who made dismal 8 under-pars and 64 strokes in the second round last year.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com