LPGA Rookie Lee Wins ShopRite Classic

They say that a dream often comes true in an opposite way. Having that thought in mind, Lee Sun-hwa did not feel so good when she woke up from a dream in which she had won a trophy. But this came true exactly as it happened in her dream: Lee (20, CJ) has won her first LPGA tour.

With a brilliant third round play where she hit 8-under par and 63 strokes, Lee took the crown at the ShopRite Classic held at the Sea View Resort Bay Course (par 71) in Galloway, New Jersey, on June 5; her final score was 16-under par and 197 strokes.

Lee Sun-hwa, a 3-time runner-up in the 12 tournaments which she participated in since her LPGA debut this year, has finally won her first cup with her best score yet. Korean golfers are on the rise this season, flaunting six wins and 9 runner-up claims out of 13 tournaments. “Having been the runner-up three times helped a lot too. I am so happy,” said Lee.

Lee was not expecting a win, as she was in a third place tie with two strokes behind the lead a day before. She did not even glance at the leader board. Focusing on her play alone, Lee saved two strokes. Continuing onto the later part of the game, she got four consecutive birdies and yet another birdie at the 17th hole. After her third shot in the 18th hole (par 5), her caddie finally told her that she was leading the game by three strokes. The usually stoic Lee broke out a smile at last.

Lee Sun-hwa was congratulated with a champagne shower from her friend Jang Jeong (Industrial Bank of Korea), as Jang was congratulated by Lee when she had won the British Open last year. Jang Jeong scored a 13-under par to tie in second place with Annika Sorenstam and others.

Who is Lee Sun-hwa? She started to play golf as a fourth grader. During her middle school years, the 14-year-old passed a pro test and became the youngest female pro golfer in Korea. She went on to make another record by winning MC Square Women’s Golf Tournament the next year.

Lee grabbed the full seed last year with her standing as the top prizewinner in LPGA second division tour. With her latest win, she earned $225,000 and jumped to fourth place ($660,414) in total prize winnings. As a candidate for the rookie award, Lee’s score of 674 has surpassed Morgan Pressel’s 373.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com