Meritz Financial Classic

First up is the Meritz Financial Classic, played October 14 - 16. This event managed to attract two Korean superstars to its field: Hee-Won Han, who was not invited to the Samsung Championship despite being top ten on the money list because she had been only 19th on the money list when the deadline for invitation had occurred a few weeks ago; and Mi Hyun Kim, who had not played in a KLPGA event (other than the 9 Bridges) in some time. As usual, the two ladies attracted the attention of the news media when they arrived in Korea. Hee-Won, fresh off a win and a second place finish, and accompanied by her famous husband, was particularly covered. Shortly after playing this event, she had an autograph session at the Lotte department store, as discussed in this issue's story about the CJ 9 Bridges Classic.

Besides those two players, the Korean/Thai twins Aree and Naree Song played, as did LPGA rookie Joo Mi Kim and two Koreans who acquired tour cards on the Futures Tour this year, Seon-Hwa Lee and Kyeong Bae. Bae also happens to be leading the KLPGA tour money list in 2005. She would be joined in this tournament's field by many of the other top KLPGA players, including Bo Bae Song and Na Yeon Choi.

Well, round 1 started out well for Hee-Won and some of our other faves, but the conditions were tough out there, judging by the scores. Hee-Won managed three birdies in her first six holes to move into the lead, with Kyeong Bae right behind her at 2 under, but both ladies had a double bogey on the 11th hole, and Han continued to struggle after that. She wound up shooting a 3 over par 74 (ouch!): three birdies, four bogies and a double. That left her in 43rd place.

The leader after round one was a relative unknown named Mi Hyun Cho (not to be confused with Mi Hyun Kim; we'll get to her in a minute). Cho came up with a 4 under par 67. Two other unknowns were tied for second at 3 under. Na Ri Kim shot a 2 under par 69 and was tied for fourth.

Included among those tied for 5th at 1 under were Seon-Hwa Lee and In-Kyung Kim, the amateur who won the US Girls Junior this year (In-Kyung had also been just behind Hee-Won for a while early in the round).

Kimmie ended up shooting a 1 over par 72 and was tied for 15th.

In Round 2, a familiar favorite rose to the top of the leaderboard. No, it wasn't Hee-Won Han. It was Seon-Hwa Lee, who shot a one under par 70 to match her first round 70. That's right, the lead in the tournament was only 2 under. She was tied with a gal named Yun Hee Jee for the lead going into the final round.

One shot back at one under was a plethora of players, including first round leader Mi Hyun Cho and Bo Bae Song, who managed an impressive 3 under par 68 in round two. At even par was Mi Hyun Kim, who shot a 70 in round 2. Joo Mi Kim was at 1 over, and Hee-Won at 2 over.

Peanut is greeted at the airport with flowers

Hee-Won and Mi Hyun meet the press
before the Meritz Financial Classic

Hee-Won during round 1

Joo Mi charges in round 3...

...But your winner was Woo Ri Choi!

One golfer who made a great run on Sunday was Hee-Won Han. She started the day at +2, but after an early bogey, had five birdies in six holes to climb all the way to 2 under and just out of the lead. She then made two straight bogies, however, and wound up with a still great but not good enough score of 1 under par total. She finished tied for 5th. Superstars have a way of finishing well even when they struggle.

Kimmie started out well, moving to 2 under total after nine. Bo Bae looked strong moving to three under after 6 holes and a tie for the lead. Seon-Hwa Lee was not able to make a birdie for her first seven holes, then bogied the 8th to fall to 1 under. Who was going to pull it out?

On the back nine, out of nowhere, came an unheralded golfer named Woo Ri Choi. Choi, a 20 year old second year golfer, birdied 8, 9, 11, and 13 to vault to five under. She then bogied 14 to fall back to 4 under, but still had the lead.

Then along came Joo Mi Kim! Starting the day at one over, she bogied the 5th, but then birdied 10, 12, 13 and 14 to move to 2 under. She was putting the heat on. Then Seon-Hwa Lee came back from two early bogies, making birdies on 14 - 17 to move to 4 under. She had a chance to apply the pressure on the inexperienced leader Choi as well.

But in the end, it was Woo Ri Choi who succeeded. She birdied 15 and then 18 to move to 6 under and claim the win. Congrats to her! Seon-Hwa Lee claimed second at 4 under, and Joo Mi finished 4th.