Bracing for the Cold on the LPGA Tour

Kim Mi-hyun and Lee Mee-na, who are playing in the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, recently received a package of warm clothing from Chung Sun-jae, the golf manager of their sponsor company KTF. In it were items to keep them warm such as sweaters, vests and woolen hats.

The warm clothing is for the Kolon-Hana Bank Championship, the only LPGA tour held in Korea, which is starting on October 27 at the Mauna Ocean Country Club (Par 72) in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. It is expected to be cold with strong winds as the golf course is located halfway up a mountain at around 450 meters above sea level and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. Moreover, all golf players playing in the LPGA have just taken part in a championship in Thailand, amid high humid temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius, so their sensory temperatures will be even lower.

At the practice round, Lee Mee-na said, “It’s so cold that my fingers are almost numb.”

The ‘super rookie’ Shin Ji-ai (Himart), who is having a great season in the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) tour, did her practice round bundled up in four layers of upper garments.

The weather is expected to be a key factor in winning the championship, especially during the second round on October 28, as it has been forecasted to rain.

Meanwhile, it was announced on October 26 that Pak Se-ri (CJ), who won the event in 2002 when it was named CJ Nine Bridges Classic, Shin Ji-ai and last year’s LPGA tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ Paula Creamer (USA) are in the same group for the first round, and they will tee-off at 10.44 am on October 27. The match between the three is receiving much attention as Pak held the rookie crown in both Korea and the United States, while Shin has reserved for herself the crown for KLPGA Rookie of the Year.

“It is an honor for me to be playing with Pak Se-ri, who is my idol,” said Shin Ji-ai.

Kim Mi-hyun, a two-time winner during the LPGA tour this season, and this year’s LPGA tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ Lee Seon-hwa (CJ) along with Laura Davies (England) who is known for her long drive, will be playing together in the first round. Defending champion Lee Jee-young (Himart), Park Hee-young (Isu Construction), who is second on reward money ranking in the KLPGA tour this year, and Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), will be in the same group. Han Hee-won (Fila Korea) who is aiming at her third win this season and a two week consecutive win, will be playing the first round with Kim Ju-mi (Hite) and Julieta Granada (Paraguay).

kjs0123@donga.com