Highlights and Lowlights

Almost First
Congratulations to Jung Yeon Lee, whose career track is skyrocketing like no other Korean player. It wasn't so long ago that she was just another face in the crowd, with only one top ten to her credit. But since last September, she has consistently put up one great performance after another. At the Chick-Fil-A, she did it again. She came from well back in the field on the final day thanks to a 65, tying the low score for the day and the tournament, and came just one shot away from taking the event outright. It marked her third second place finish in the last six months. The next step is a win, and with the way she's been playing, you have to think that will be coming some time this year.

First to Worst (almost)
Meanwhile, don't feel too bad for Aree Song. The birthday girl doubtless got a few nice presents, and in her Rookie Diary featured on LPGA.COM, she crowed about the new SUV she recently bought herself. But the final round proved to be a disaster for her. After leading the tournament for two rounds, she found herself in the final group on Sunday with Annika Sorenstam and Mi Hyun Kim, both multiple winners on the tour. Things did not go well on the front nine, but they got really bad on the back. The worst moment was doubtless a one stroke penalty she received on the 13th hole, where she illegally lifted a ball to clean it while it sat in the fringe, provoking a one shot penalty, then missed a par putt to end up with a double bogey 7. After that, she found it difficult to hit the ball straight for the remainder of her round. She ended up in a tie for 23rd and well out of contention. But with her talent and drive, she'll not be too affected by this setback.

Christina's Big Power Burst
If Aree had an odd ride this week, she's not the only Korean or Korean-American player who has experienced something like that at this event. Last year, Christina Kim was well on her way to a top ten when she reached the 18th hole, her final one of the tournament. She proceeded to hit the ball into the water not once but twice, and by the time she was done had carded a 4 over par 9 and plunged down the leaderboard. She would not make another top ten until her final event of the year, the Mizuno Classic. This year, Christina got off to a great start, leading after the first round following a blistering 7 under par 65. But she made up no ground for the next two rounds, going 2 over on Friday and 2 under on Saturday. Another 70 on Sunday left her at 9 under, in a tie for 14th. Not a win, but she must feel a lot better about her final hole this year than last year: she made birdie.

Other hands on the purse
Surprising as it was, the low rookie among the Koreans this week was not Aree Song, but Shi Hyun Ahn, who quietly amassed a 9 under par total to finish tied for 14th. Her best round came on Sunday, a five under par 67. The big Three Seoul Sisters all notched top tens this week, with Grace finishing 2nd, and Mi Hyun having a great chance to win before a couple of stumbles in her final few holes. Soo Yun Kang made a little more cash as well thanks to four solid rounds that left her in a tie for 28th.

18th Hole was no curse
Se Ri Pak managed to make three eagles (two at the 18th hole) this week at the Chick-Fil-A, played, appropriately enough, at Eagle's Landing Country Club! She leads the tour in this stat, and led the tour in it last year as well.

Did we mention that Aree has turned 18??

Christina Kim in round 3