KLPGA Update

The next tournament on the schedule is arguably the most important of the year: the Korean Women's Open. Each year they invite several important international golfers to take part in this tournament, and 2007 was no exception. Among the non-Korean notable golfers in the field were LPGA stars Cristie Kerr and Sophie Gustafson and Taiwanese sensation Ya Ni Tseng. Also appearing was 15 year old US Women's Amateur champ Kimberly Kim (pictured). (Interestingly, Gustafson also signed a one year sponsorship deal with a Korean company called Dong-A membership. She will be wearing a logo of theirs on her clothes during the 2007 season. This is not the first time a non-Korean women's golfer was sponsored by a Korean company, however. Both Nancy Lopez and Juli Inkster have been sponsored by Korean clothing company Astra in the past).

Coming into this week, Eun Hee Ji had stolen the spotlight on tour; she had won two straight events, but no one since Mi Hyun Kim in the late nineties had won three straight. Could she possibly do it?

Well, guess what? After two rounds, Ji had carved out a solid two shot lead! She shot back to back 70s to get to 4 under par. With one round to go, she was in wonderful position to make history. In second was Sun Ju Ahn, who had won the first KB Star tour event. Gustafson at one under was the only other golfer under par. Meanwhile, Shin and Hee Young Park were both struggling at 5 over par, tied for 18th.

Eun Hee Ji's reign at the top of the KLPGA came to a temporary close in round three, however, and no historic third straight win was to be had. She shot a 4 over par 76 and plummeted to even par for the day. Meanwhile, Cristie Kerr made a run up the leaderboard, shooting the best score of the day, 69, and also finished at even par total. That was good for a tie for second.

More history ended when Ji Yai Shin, despite a solid 71, only finished tied for 11th. It was her first finish outside the top ten in ages. Hee Young Park, too, finished well back.

So who won the event? The player who stepped to the plate was second year golfer Sun Ju Ahn. Ahn, whose nickname is Big Mama in Korea, has been lurking all year. She already had won an event earlier this season, but this win was without a doubt the biggest of her career. She has now established herself as one of the select top players on tour along with Ji, Shin, Park and Na Yeon Choi, and took over first place on the money list as well from Ji. It looks like there will be quite a power struggle among these ladies on tour in 2007!

Scores:
1 Sun Ju Ahn 73(8) 69(1) 70(4) 212 -4
2 Cristie Kerr 71(2) 76(74) 69(1) 216 0
2 Jae Eun Chung 72(5) 72(17) 72(13) 216 0
2 Eun Hee Ji 70(1) 70(3) 76(45) 216 0
5 Na Yeon Choi 78(43) 70(3) 69(1) 217 1
5 So Young Kim 2 77(29) 71(11) 69(1) 217 1
5 Ya Ni Tseng 71(2) 75(58) 71(7) 217 1
5 Sophie Gustafson 71(2) 72(17) 74(27) 217 1
9 Jung Eun Lee 3 72(5) 75(58) 71(7) 218 2
10 Bo Mi Lee (A) 79(62) 69(1) 71(7) 219 3

Notables
11 Jin Joo Hong 77(29) 73(23) 70(4) 220 4
11 Ji Yai Shin 76(21) 73(23) 71(7) 220 4
17 Hee Young Park 73(8) 76(74) 73(18) 222 6
21 Sarah Nicolson 77(29) 73(23) 73(18) 223 7
21 Woo Ri Choi 72(5) 77(86) 74(27) 223 7
26 Ha Neul Kim 82(97) 70(3) 72(13) 224 8
26 Ran Hong 77(29) 75(58) 72(13) 224 8
41 Titiya Plucksataporn 76(21) 74(34) 76(45) 226 10
45 Bo Bae Song 78(43) 74(34) 75(36) 227 11
52 Hae Jung Kim 81(85) 72(17) 75(36) 228 12
52 Da Ye Na 76(21) 76(74) 76(45) 228 12
60 Honey Moon 76(21) 77(86) 76(45) 229 13
66 Eun Ah Lim 77(29) 75(58) 79(66) 231 15