KLPGA Update

The next KLPGA event was contested from July 4 - 6th, and as seems to happen pretty much every event, it once again turned into a battle between the top players on the KLPGA. The event was the MBC Tour Korea Golf and Art Village Open, another new event on this year's KLPGA schedule. It would be the last event on tour until late August, as the tour usually takes time off for the summer.

The big question was whether Ji Yai Shin, fresh off her 6th place finish at the US Women's Open, would be able to grab her 4th consecutive KLPGA win, or would one of her rivals be able to knock her down? Of course, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if she were off her game; this was her fifth straight event, and many of her rivals had gotten the previous week off.

Torrential downpours canceled round one, so the tournament was reduced to a 36 hole shootout. This benefited Shin a little bit, since she got a chance to get some more rest; but it also meant that she would have no room for a poor round if she wanted to claim her fourth straight win.

Not surprisingly, after the first round, one of the other Big Three on the KLPGA this year drew first blood. This was Eun Hee Ji (pictured), who stormed to a first round lead with a 6 under par 66. Na Yeon Choi, fresh off her missed cut at the Open, was one of four golfers tied for second at 4 under, while 2 time winner Sun Ju Ahn and Ji Yai Shin both carded 3 under par 69s. Hee Young Park, the other golfer coming from the Open, started her tournament with an even par 72.

Who was going to pull off the win? On the final day, the fireworks exploded, as the top players on tour vied for the prize. Ji Yai Shin had a strong round. She managed five birdies on her front nine, and looked ready to capture her fourth straight event. This would have made her the first KLPGA golfer to ever accomplish this feat. But it was not to be: on the back nine she could not make another birdie, and after a bogey on the 15th hole, went one over total on the back for a 68 and a 7 under par total. This was good for a tie for 5th, certainly not a bad finish, but not the historic one she was seeking. Still, considering it was her fifth straight event, and fifth straight top ten (including the Open), not a bad job at all.

The tournament came down to the other two multiple winners of 2007, Sun Ju Ahn (pictured) and Eun Hee Ji, both vying to become the second player to win three or more times on tour in 2007. Ji, who started the day in the lead, even made a hole in one on the par 3 4th hole. As if that weren't enough, she scored a second eagle on the par 5 8th hole, and at the turn had moved to 11 under. Ahn, meanwhile, had three birdies on the front nine and sat at 6 under total, five shots back. For the moment, Ji was in control.

But on the back nine, it was Ahn who had the hot hand while Ji fought to maintain her game. Ji made a bogey on the 11th while Ahn birdied 10 to cut the deficit to three shots. Ahn birdied 12 and then 14, while Ji parred both, and just like that Ahn was only one shot behind her opponent. The difference remained 1 stroke until they reached the 17th hole. Ahn reached the green of this par 5 in two and dunked her own eagle, while Ji only made par, and for the first time, Ahn took over the lead by a shot. Both players then birdied the final hole, and Ahn walked off with the one shot victory. Her score for the day? A blistering 9 under par 63, the lowest score on tour in years. Her round had consisted of 7 birdies, one eagle and no mistakes. Ji, despite shooting a 67 which consisted of two eagles, two birdies and a bogey, was only able to collect second place. Eun Ah Lim secured a tie for third with Na Yeon Choi after shooting her own 8 under par 64 (she, too, had an eagle on the 17th). It was a day full of drama and excitement, and in the end, Sun Ju Ahn had once again won and established herself as a top challenger for Player of the Year. Will anyone ever win on this tour this year other than Ahn, Ji or Shin? Stay tuned for the second half of the KLPGA season, starting in August!!