Grin and Shout

On Saturday, Christina Kim played in the final round, and starting the day, was in a great position to extend her lead even more. But Cristie Kerr, who had shot a torrid 63 on Friday, continued her pace unabated, and before long, she had caught up with Christina. The two of them were starting to pull away from the field, but Christina was struggling and it looked as though she might lose despite her brilliance through the first two days. Her swing started to tighten up a bit, and she was not putting it as well as before. But she hung tough, and ended up with a 71 before all was said and done. That was good for second place, and one more time in the final group on Sunday. But Kerr managed another 63, and her four shot deficit after Friday became a four shot lead going into the final day. Christina had her work cut out for her.

Meanwhile, the fans started a love affair with Christina Kim. With her go for it style, friendliness, and animated demeanor, they quickly adopted her as their favorite, and tried to will her on to a victory. Christina, if anything, became even more animated as a result. All of this didn't sit too well with Kerr, who made a comment to Christina to tone down her act and play more "professionally". According to the accounts of some people who were there, Cristie also walked in Kim's line several times, probably by accident (this is considered bad form in golfing circles). But Christina let it roll off her back, and focused her efforts on taking the top prize.

Christina during round 3

Hee-Won on Saturday. She played well
all week until the final few holes on Sunday

Il Mi Chung, meanwhile, was playing so well that she even made an appearance on the broadcast. It happened on the 15th hole, a par 5 that is quite reachable. Chung left herself with a very short eagle putt, but was not able to dunk it. Nonetheless, she collected a birdie, leaving her, for the first time in her career on the LPGA, in the top ten on the leaderboard at 11 under par. Unfortunately, from that moment on, she started to struggle again, and ended up by the end of the tournament all the way back down at 3 under.

Young-A Yang, too, was on the leaderboard, as were the ever dependable Hee-Won Han and Mi Hyun Kim. So there were a lot of possible top ten players for the Koreans. But by the end of Saturday, Christina was still the player who had the best chance of upsetting Kerr.

Sunday was one of the most riveting duels in several months on tour. At the start of the day, Christina was four shots behind Kerr, Jennifer Rosales five. Rosales was not able to do much right, but Christina quickly asserted herself with birdies on 3, 4, and 6 to move to 20 under. Kerr got to 22 under, but could make no more progress. With nine holes to go, things were tight. And Kerr had a history of choking away big leads, so this might still be a golden chance for Christina. And a birdie on 10 for Christina made it even tighter.

Christina was by now shouting at the ball, pumping her fist with joy at every great shot, talking to her ball in flight, and smiling at the crowd. She adopted this little hand gesture which she did to members of the gallery, who shouted their enthusiasm in return. Quite frankly, it was a love fest. Rarely has a gallery been more in the corner of a young woman to win it all. Rosales, a good friend of Christina's, was by this point out of the running, and would talk to her, trying to encourage her to play well much in the same way Meg Mallon had taken Rosales under her wing during Rosales' first victory a few months earlier.

Christina next birdied the 14th to move into a tie with Kerr at 23 under par. On the par 5 15th, both Kerr and Christina got close to the hole in two; but Kim was at most four feet away, while Kerr was more like ten feet. Kerr thus putted first, and just missed the eagle. She was not amused, because she knew what was coming next. And sure enough, Christina dunked the eagle, and suddenly she had the lead again.

Get in there! Christina tried every form of
Body English imaginable to get the ball in the hole
on Sunday

Christina kept smiling as the match got
tighter. Here she is on
Saturday

Now it was Christina's turn. She did not hit a good tee shot, though, and her ball ended up behind the bunker with a nasty downhill chip to the hole. Kerr put her ball in the center of the green. Christina had two options: go for the hole and risk rolling the ball past it into the water; or hit to the center of the green and give herself a longish par save. She opted to go for the hole, but despite her best efforts, the ball rolled past the flag, off the green and towards the water. Luckily it stopped in some tall rough, but she now had a tough tough third shot. All in all, she might have been better off taking her medicine. Her third shot, a chip from that tall rough, went well past the hole, and now she had a 12 footer, downhill, for bogey. It could have all ended there, but Christina calmly lined up her putt and nailed it. The crowd went crazy, Christina smiled and did her finger waving gesture to her fans, and she was still in it. The match was tied again.

On 17, both ladies got their balls very near the hole. But Christina this time could not make the 6 footer, while Kerr made her putt, and once again Kerr had the lead. It looked like it was all over for Christina, but keep in mind that Kerr had choked away a one shot lead just a few months earlier at the Takefuji Classic by missing a two foot par save on the 18th hole. Kerr then hit first, and put her ball in the right rough, behind a small tree. Christina had her opening, and walked through it. Her drive bounced into the light rough, and she followed that with a great iron over the bunker (barely over the bunker) that rolled right up next to the hole. Kerr was in trouble, and Christina had a great birdie chance. Kerr was forced to hit her second under the tree, where it ended up in the greenside bunker Kim had barely avoided. But Kerr's next shot was great, leaving her a three foot par save. It was all up to Christina. She HAD to make the birdie to extend the match.

As much as I would like to say she did make it, she did not. Kerr then sunk the easy shot and won it all. In the final two holes, Christina had missed two crucial short putts that had cost her everything. Imagine her disappointment: shooting the second best total score on tour by any player all year, and it was still not good enough to get the win! It was also the second best score in the history of the State Farm tournament, losing to the best score ever. Sometimes, no matter how well you play, it just isn't good enough.

Naturally, afterwards Christina began to cry uncontrollably. But the fans were there for her, just as they had been all week. After she composed herself, she went to sign autographs. Hundreds had waited to give her a pat on the shoulder and tell her job well done. In the end, she gained so much valuable experience, and the fans were rewarded with an electrifying tournament and a gracious runner up who gave it, and them, her all. No doubt she will be hoisting that first LPGA trophy before long!

The emotion sinks in