Korean Golfers Becoming LPGA Force

Korean women’s golf stacked up seven wins this season in the LPGA Tour, and not a single player won twice. The reality is that there are so many players out there that we have a different champion every time.

On June 23, the first round of the Wegmans LPGA was held at the Locust Hill Country Club (par 72) in Pittsford, New York. Many Korean players, hungry for the first round victory, landed in the upper part of the leader board. The four Koreans who ranked in the top five haven’t won a tournament this season.

Ahn Shi-hyun, the 2003 CJ Nine Bridge Classics champion, cut through the 40km/hr wind and took the sole lead in the first round. Ahn made seven birdies and no bogeys, finishing the day with (7-under) 65. Brittany Lang took second place with one birdie shy of tying Ahn.

Ahn Shi-hyun had a particularly bad bee sting on her right hand two days before the opening of the Pro-Am Games and gave up her entry. “The swelling on my hand was quite bad. But the wind made me more cautious of club selection, and that turned out to be my blessing.” Moon Su-young took the third place lead (5-under 67), Park Hee-jung took the fourth position (4-under 68), and Jang Jung tied for fifth (3-under 69).

Kim Ju-mi, aiming for her second win of the season, and Lee Sun-hwa tied for 10th with 2-under 70. McDonalds LPGA Championship winner Pak Se-ri (CJ) finished 1-over 73 in 53rd place. Karrie Webb finished 2-over 74, and her hope of winning the third crown of the season was stalled.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com