Kang Soo-yeon Wins PAVV Invitational

Kang Soo-yeon (28, Astra) exhaled a deep breath before executing a second shot at the par-4 18th. She had just a one-shot lead over the second place group with 4-under, and there was a water hazard just in front of the left side of the green. If the ball were to fall in the water, her hopes for the championship would also sink.

It didn’t happen. Kang confidently swung the second shot; and the ball landed within six meters from the hole. If she got the ball into the hole in two shots, victory was hers. Playing it safe, Kang got the ball 30 cm away from the hole in her third shot. The final shot sank, and she won the championship.

A style-rich player, Kang shook off LPGA rookie Ahn Shi-hyun’s (20, Kolon Elord) chase and won the 2004 KLPGA PAVV International golf tournament.

In the final round of the tournament at the Phoenix Park golf club in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province on October 3, Kang cruised to 2-under 70 and with the total of 4-under 212, she edged Ahn and Shin Hyun-ju (Hi-mart) by one stroke.

This is Kang’s first victory in two years since winning the Hite Cup Ladies Professional Golf Tournament in September 2002. Since her debut on the KLPGA, Kang has won seven championships and entered the LPGA tour last year. Her best performance in the LPGA was a tie for second at the LPGA Takefuji Classic in 2003.

“I’m excited because I haven’t won for a long time,” said Kang. “I had my parents and fans in suspense in the latter part of the game because I committed many errors. I’m happy that I’ve made amends with the winner’s trophy,” she added.

Kang was 6-under until the No. 14 hole, leading by three. However, she ran into trouble after bogeys at No. 15 and No. 16. Kang rebounded and managed to hold on to the lead by saving par on the last two holes.

Women’s British Open winner Karen Stupples of England tied for 10th with 3-over 219, and Natalie Gulbis of the United States tied for 21st with 6-over 222.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com