Park Hyun-soon Overcomes Barriers With Putting Sense

The 32-year-old, six-month pregnant golfer Park Hyun-soon stood on top of the leader board along with nameless player Lee Jung-eun (19) in the first opening of the ADT•CAPS Invitational, which is the last competition of the KLPGA (Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association).

In the first round held in the Lakeside CC South Course (par 72), Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on November 4, Park Hyun-soon experienced a perplexing incident upon the opening of the round. Another player’s putter had been found in her caddy bag. Park commented about the issue, saying, “A practice partner who played with me yesterday in the pro-am accidentally stuffed a putter in my bag. I’ve informed my accompanying player before heading into the second round.”

Park Hyun-soon, who par-saved the first hole, received a two shot-penalty because she exceeded the regulation allowing only 14 clubs, but scooped up rows of birdies via her sensational putting sense as she cleared her mind and turned into a positive strategy. Park recorded eight birdies, one double bogey, and a bogey to wrap up a 5-under-par 67.

Park Hyun-soon, who entered the KLPGA in 1991 and has a 14-year career, is also the cousin of Park Chan-ho (Texas Rangers). She earned a total of six wins and after finishing the round with a plump belly, commented, “It’s the first baby since my marriage in 1998, and it kept me calm to play comfortable golf. My total number of putts was 28, which tells I had a great sense of the game.”

Pak Se-ri (CJ), who showed a glimpse of a strong comeback in the CJ Nine Bridge Classic with a tie for 11th place (seven-under-par), kicked off a smooth start with six birdies and two bogies to place her tied for third place with a 4-under-par 68, which is a one-stroke gap with the leader. Song Bo-bae (Superior) stands tied at sixth place (three under par) and Kang Soo-hyun (Astra) is tied at 13th place with a 2-under-par 70.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com