2005 State Farm Classic

The two hottest Korean currently, Soo-Yun Kang and Jeong Jang, both took this event off to play in an event in Korea (which is described elsewhere in this issue). At first, this looked like it might be a chance for the old time Korean stars to contend and maybe even win an event for the first time in 2005. Hee-Won Han started out strong with a 4 under par 68, and Grace Park, who has not had a decent start to an event in ages, chimed in with a 3 under par 69. Mi Hyun Kim shot 70, and Pearl Sinn-Bonanni, who had not played very well in years, also scored a 68. Aree Song also put up a 69, showing some more signs that she is returning to form after a nearly season long slump.

But the good news didn't last. Various Korean players managed good rounds here and there, but no one was able to put up a sustained effort over four rounds, and thus a Korean did not contend for the first time since the Evian Masters more than a month ago.

Hee-Won Han put together a pretty solid effort, with four rounds under par. She scored a 7th place finish in the end and was top Korean in the field. But she was not able to get even one really great score, settling for four solid rounds to complete her tournament.

Aree Song showed some signs she could make a push, especially after an excellent third round 66. But she could do no better than 70 on Sunday.

Hee-Won tests the wind during round 2

Jimin Kang missed the cut this year

Sung Ah Yim and Joo Mi Kim turned in respectable performances. For Yim, it was yet another top ten, showing once again the depth of the Korean rookies this year. Joo Mi shot three rounds of 70 or better to finish in a tie for 25th. Unfortunately, Paula Creamer clinched the Rookie of the Year award the previous week with her tie for second at the Wendy's, so the Korean gals had to settle for jockeying to be second best.

Mi Hyun Kim seemed to follow Hee-Won Han's game plan, with four solid rounds but nothing spectacular. She ended up just a shot out of the top ten.

The most unfortunate result of the week was probably Grace Park. She started, as mentioned before, with a 69, and in round two was three under par half way through her round when she began to struggle. She ended up shooting even par, though, and made the cut. But the next morning, she awoke with a neck pain that wouldn't go away, and reluctantly dropped out of the event. Grace's injuries have plagued her all year, and yet another event suffered because of them.

Kudos also to Shi Hyun Ahn, who has, along with fellow second year player Aree Song, started at last to emerge from her long sophomore slump. Ahn had a second round 66, and three other rounds near par gave her a 25th place finish. Not great, perhaps, but if she starts putting together more rounds like her Friday round here, we may soon be seeing her contend like she did in 2004, when she won the Rookie of the Year award.

Jimin Kang, meanwhile, missed the cut, but made a hole in one, bringing her total for the year up to two. If she makes one more in 2005, she stands to win a $300,000 bonus offered by Schick Intuition razors. Not bad! Currently, Christina Kim and Sung Ah Yim are two other Koeran golfers with two holes-in-one on the year.

Shi Hyun and Hee-Won in round 3