2005 CJ 9 Bridges Classic

The Festivities start
The players began to return to Korea several weeks before the actual event. Hee-Won Han and Mi Hyun Kim, who were not eligible to play in the Samsung World Championship this year, returned in early October to compete in the Meritz Financial Classic on the KLPGA tour, as detailed in the last issue of Seoul Sisters Magazine. Soo-Yun Kang, Birdie Kim and several other players also played KLPGA events to warm up for the CJ. Grace Park took a different tack, returning home but then flying to Japan to compete in an event there. She didn't do so well, alas, finishing well behind the winner, Paula Creamer of the LPGA.

Se Ri Pak was not going to be competing in any golf event for the rest of the year. Her finger injury had seen to that. But she still returned to Korea at the request of her sponsor CJ, the same company that sponsors the CJ 9 Bridges Classic. They wanted her there to participate in some of the smoozing that goes along with the event. Seeing as how she was going to be in Cheju Island anyway (Cheju is the island where the event takes place; it is off the southern coast of South Korea), she decided to do something besides just hang out at the event. She was asked by SBS, the network covering the tournament, to be a commentator, and she readily accepted. It would mark her first ever foray into the world of professional commentating. Like with everything Se Ri does, it became a big story in Korea; indeed, the ads for the event emphasized her participation, as the voiceover announcer practically shouted about how the GOLF QUEEN PAK SE RI would be involved in calling the event, which, oh by the way, would also feature the other Korean golf stars you may have heard about. Se Ri contributed to the broadcast on Saturday and Sunday, not only commenting on the action, but also doing a few prerecorded reports on several of the holes, talking about the challenges of each. She did a good job, although she readily admitted she was nervous at first, unsure of what to do. She credited the pros with whom she worked with helping her to get her bearings. But she made it clear that she was not thinking about doing this for a living any time soon; golf was still her first priority.

Se Ri Pak - girl reporter!

Hee-Won Han made a public appearance in Seoul the week before the CJ started. Her sponsor, Fila Korea, set up an autograph session with Hee-Won at the Lotte Department store in Seoul to celebrate her recent victory at the Office Depot in Los Angeles. Hundreds of fans showed up for a chance to get an autograph and talk to the affable star.

On Tuesday, the players began to arrive in numbers, and played their practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night was the annual sponsor's dinner, and as happens every year, it was quite a production. This year, there were several performers to entertain the players and sponsors. Among them was a four piece group called SOME, and a pop star named Lexi. This was a special treat for Na Yeon Choi, who is one of Lexi's biggest fans. Considering Choi's birthday (her 18th birthday) was on Friday, and she would not be able to celebrate because she would be playing golf, she probably considered seeing Lexi in person an early birthday present.

The group SOME perform at the CJ 9 Bridges
sponsor dinner

Lexi performs for the golfers and sponsors
(she's the gal in the middle)

Shi Hyun and Soo-Yun were dressed to kill at the
CJ sponsors dinner

Grace looked great for the dinner as well! Here she is a bit
embarrassed as she is introduced as the defending champion.

Grace talks at the dinner