KLPGA Update

PAVV Invitational
The KLPGA season is in full swing right now, and many of the biggest events of the season were played in the past few weeks. A perfect time to do a review of all the action!

First came the PAVV Invitational, which occurred from September 6 - 8. They invited a nice selection of LPGA stars to participate, including Soo-Yun Kang, a former champion of the event. Also participating were Karen Stupples and another former British Open champ, Jeong Jang. Brittany Lincicome was also in the field.

Besides the LPGA invitees, of course, all the top KLPGA regulars were fighting for the prize. Remember that Hee Young Park had overtaken Ji-Yai Shin for the top spot on the money list by winning the previous event, the Lake Hills Classic; Hee Young was also the defending champion this week (editor's note: I have decided to use the Anglicization 'Ji-Yai' for her first name, as this is the one used on the KLPGA website. This is the player former known as 'Ji Ae Shin').

After the first round, two relatively unknown KLPGA players, Young Ae Ham and Eun Jung Shin (pictured), were tied for the lead. They both shot a 6 under par 66. Ham had an impressive nine birdies on the day. Rookie star Ji-Yai Shin shot a 68, tying her for 4th with Karen Stupples and two other players. Kangsy and Hee Young Park, both former champions at this event, shot 69. JJ shot an even par round, and Brittany Lincicome was one under on day one.

Round two became one of the most important of the entire season. The season to date had been a battle between Ji-Yai Shin and Hee Young Park for the top spot on the money list. Hee Young got out of the gate early by winning the first event of the season, but Shin, an 18 year old rookie sensation, then won the Korean Women's Open to take over the lead on the money list. She held that position until Hee Young Park won the previous week's event (as pictured left) and climbed over her into the top spot.

Apparently Ji-Yai didn't like that, because she was on FIRE during round two. She produced seven birdies and just one bogey to climb to 10 under total and a two shot lead. Hee Young herself was four under on the front nine, but a double bogey early on the back nine killed her momentum. She went on to make two more bogies and fell all the way back to 3 under, where she started the day.

Then things got worse, and Hee Young was disqualified! Apparently on the 18th hole in round one, she had pressed down the grass behind her ball, which resulted in her improving her lie. This should have been recorded as a penalty stroke for the hole, but was not. Since she signed for an incorrect scorecard, she was DQed. They reviewed the footage from the broadcast with her following the second round, and had to pull the trigger. Although Shin doubtless wants to be on top of the money list, she surely doesn't want it happening like this!

Way back at 4 under was Kangsy, who shot a 71, JJ, who shot a 68, and Brittany Lincicome. Karen Stupples struggled to a 3 over par 75 and ended the day at 1 under.

Ji-Yai wound up collecting her second win of the season and third of her young career, and once again moved to the top of the KLPGA money list. But it wasn't easy.

With a few holes to go, she found herself two shots in the lead over Hae Jin Jong. On the 16th hole, Jong made a clutch birdie from about 15 feet to put the pressure on Shin, but Shin delivered, nailing her own birdie to keep her two shot lead. On the par 5 17th, Shin gave her opponent an opening when she put her 20 foot birdie 4 feet past the hole. Jong had a chance from about ten feet, but couldn't make the birdie. They both parred.

But it was still not over. On the final hole, Jong made a clutch birdie, while Shin put her approach in the rough and chipped to within 5 feet. If she missed the par, there would be a playoff. But she made it, and Shin collected her second win of the season!

Among the LPGA players on hand, the best finisher was Brittany Lincicome, who wound up tied for fifth place at 7 under par. Jeong Jang finished tied for 7th at 6 under.

With the win, Shin climbed to 207,930,000 won in earnings this year; Hee Young Park was second at 172,000,000. Shin was closing in on Se Ri Pak's all time season record, set in 1996, of 240,000,000 won. She had already collected five top fives with this finish, in the process beating Cristie Kerr head to head at the Korean Women's Open, and now Lincicome here.