2005 Maekyong Women's Open

Every year, many of the top Korean golfers return to their roots to help support the Korean LPGA by playing in some of the events on that tour. Some events, such as the X-CANVAS and the Korean Women's Open, have particularly benefited from star patronage. In the past few years, several LPGA stars have added KLPGA titles to their collection in this way, including Shi Hyun Ahn, Grace Park, Se Ri Pak, Soo-Yun Kang and Young Kim.

This year, a KLPGA event called the Maekyong Women's Open managed somewhat of a coup. They invited four Korean golfers from the LPGA to participate in the event, and they all accepted. As it turned out, all four of those golfers were first time winners in 2005: Meena Lee, Birdie Kim, Soo-Yun Kang and Jeong Jang. The media in Korea has been labeling these ladies 'Cinderellas' owing to these wins; so when four of the five first time winners on tour agreed to appear at one KLPGA event (the lone winner missing is Jimin Kang), the media soon dubbed it the 'Battle of the Cinderellas'. But be certain about one thing: though they are called Cinderellas, all four of these ladies earned their wins through hard work and brilliant play. There was none of the luck element involved that colors the tale of Cinderella. Those glass slippers fit them because they worked hard to make them fit.

The event took place on Cheju Island, a small island off the southern coast of South Korea, from September 2 - 4. This is the same island where the CJ 9 Bridges Classic has been contested the past few years. As the ladies arrived in Korea, the media covered their arrivals with typical zeal. Soo-Yun Kang arrived shortly after her top ten at the Wendy's Championship, still flush with happiness about her win at the Safeway the week before that. For Birdie Kim, it would be her first return to Korea since winning the US Women's Open. Jang and Lee had already been back since their wins.

Of course, the event would consist of more than just these four golfers. Also there would be a full complement of KLPGA stars, including Bo Bae Song, who had won an event in North Korea the week before, and Na Yeon Choi, the latest teen sensation. And LPGA star Marisa Baena, herself a first time winner in 2005, also competed.

Soo-Yun Kang and Meena Lee arrive at the airport

Kangsy with her pro-am partners

Once the ladies arrived at Cheju, they proceeded to play practice rounds and pro-ams to prepare themselves for the main event. The course the event was held on was the Roadland Golf Course, a par 72 course, 6,235 yards long. The media turned out in force to watch the ladies. As expected, Soo-Yun Kang and JJ were especially popular subjects for the reporters.

JJ poses with a Mercedes during her pro-am. The car was a prize for a hole in one

Before the event started, the four Cinderellas held a press conference, and also posed for several group photos for the reporters.

(L to R): Birdie Kim, Meena Lee, Soo-Yun Kang and Jeong Jang are ready
to duke it out for the title