2008 Australian Women's Open

[HappyFan]

The Australian Women's Open will take place from January 31 - February 3rd. Karrie Webb won last year, but Ji Yai Shin and Sun Ju Ahn both managed good finishes (Shin finished fifth, Ahn 7th).

http://womensausopen.golfaustralia.org.au/

This year a plethora of Korean stars are in the field. Here is the complete list committed so far:

From KLPGA:
CHOI, Na-Yeon (KOR) (also LPGA rookie)
HONG, Ran (KOR) (top ten golfer)
KIM, Hae-Jung (KOR) (another top KLPGA player)
KIM, Ha-Neul (KOR) (2007 ROY)
LIM, Ji-Na (KOR) (Won on tour in 2007)
PARK, Bobea (KOR) (promising newcomer)
PARK, Hee-Young (KOR) (LPGA exempt rookie)
SHIN, Ji-Yai (KOR) (superduperstar)
YEO, Ji-Yae (KOR) (2007 Best Dresser)

From LPGA:
CHUNG, Il Mi (KOR)
JO, Young (KOR)
KIM, Birdie (KOR) (the honeymoon is over!)

From LET:
Amy Yang (teen sensation)

Other notables:
CHO, Misun (KOR) (former Aussie amateur star)
CHOI, He Yong (KOR) (silver medalist from 2006 Asian Games)
HUR, Mi-Jung (KOR) (another top amateur star)
JOH, Tiffany (USA) (great amateur KoreaAm player from USC)
KANG, Haeji (KOR) (another Aussie Amateur star)
LEE, Jenny (KOR) (college star in America?)
NIRAPATHPONGPORN, Virada (THA) (2004 US Amateur winner)
OH, Helen (NSW) (Aussie Korean am, just turned pro, already won)
OH, Sarah (NSW) (Aussie Korean am, just turned pro, already won, LPGA non-exempt rookie)
PARK, Sunny (NSW) (Aussie Korean am, just turned pro, already won)
TSENG, Ya-Ni (TWN) (Taiwanese LPGA rookie)
UEHARA, Ayako (JPN)
YOKOMINE, Sakura (JPN)

Misc.:
BAE, Jae Hee (KOR)
CHI, Youngjin (KOR)
CHO, Yun-Hee (KOR)
CHOI, Annie (KOR)
CHOI, Clare (Vic)
KIM, Eun-Hee (KOR)
KIM, Hannah (KOR) (Is this Hana Kim?)
KIM, Lydia (KOR)
OH, Su Hyun (KOR)
SEO, Hee-Kyung (KOR)
SONG, Min-Gee (KOR)
YOKOMINE, Rui (JPN)
YOON, Ji-Won (KOR)
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[PHILK_NJ]

FYI, the KLPGA and LET will co-sponsor the 'Korean Ladies Masters' on Nov. 13-15, 2008. The field will be an equal split of LET and KLPGA members. The location in Korea is TBD.

http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_news.php?Id=11831

[The Constructivist]

looking forward to your updates! especially to see how well Choi, Tseng, Hee-Young Park, and Nirapathpongporn are playing before the LPGA season begins....

[HappyFan]

RE: 'Korean Ladies Masters'

Cool! So Ji Yai will soon win a membership on the LET as well!

Seriously, though, why did they schedule it for mid-November?! Break out the parkas, ladies!
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[HappyFan]

Here's an article on the event highlighting Ji Yai Shin and Birdie Kim. I read elsewhere that Birdie apparently contacted the tournament, asking to play, and they gave her an invite.

http://sportal.com.au/golf-news-display/shin-leads-korean-charge-42414



The 15-strong Korean contingent at the 2008 Australia Open is being led by World No.7 Ji Yai Shin and 2005 US Open Champion Birdie Kim, both of whom are expected to play a prominent role down the home stretch at Kingston Heath on Sunday.

Nineteen-year-old Shin is a precocious talent with nine titles already to her name on the KLPGA Tour and, as her fifth-placing at last year's Open at Royal Sydney would suggest, she enjoys Australian conditions.

"I like Australia, it's very comfortable here, and Kingston Heath is a fantastic course but very different from Korean courses," Shin said on Wednesday.

"It's a beautiful course…but it's a little bit long and a little bit narrow, so I will try to hit it straight."

Shin appreciates that what the Heath's shortish par fives will giveth over the next four days, the long and testing par fours will taketh away, but she's feeling confident after several weeks of solid practice.

"I can shoot a low score," she said with a smile.

Birdie Kim's preparation for the Open was disrupted by visa problems which delayed her departure from New Zealand where she has spent the past month practicing at the International Golf Club in Hamilton.

"In Korea it's really cold, so every winter I go to the United States or a warm country," Kim said.

The 26-year-old landed in Melbourne on Tuesday night and got her first look at Kingston Heath early the following morning.

The par-73 layout and its 'small but otherwise perfect greens' made a favourable impression.

"On this course, long hitters can get to the (par fives) in two," said Kim.

"I would say Karrie (Webb), if she hits long and also Laura Davies, if they can drive long over the four days I think a score of 13 to 15 under par is possible."

Prompted by her then coach David Leadbetter, Kim changed her given name from Ju Yun to Birdie in 2004 to distinguish herself on the Korean Tour.

"On tour there are more than 30 players (named Kim) and I wanted a special name as a player and that's why I chose Birdie," she said.
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[PHILK_NJ]

Round 1:

Misun Cho


Shin


Birdie


Yang

[HappyFan]

In round one, the weather was apparently very rainy, making a long course play even longer. The weather seemed to ease somewhat in the afternoon, helping some of the Seoul Sisters who played then. After the round was over, the leader was Finland's Ursula Wikstrom. I know, who? She's apparently ranked 388th in the world. But on day one she shot a 3 under par 70. Among the Sisters, the best round was turned in by KLPGA star and soon to be LPGA rookie star Hee Young Park (yay!), who shot a 71 and is one shot back. Ji Yai Shin was at 2 under for a while, but ended her day with a bogey to finish at 1 under. Considering she tends to start slowly, she's in a pretty good place.

Among other Sisters who did well: budding Aussie Korean star Sarah Oh, who just turned pro, shot an even par 73; Helen Oh (another young Aussie pro) and totally cool Tiffany Joh shot +1; and Birdie Kim and Amy Yang were among those at 2 over. Na Yeon Choi had a rough opening round, though, and sits at +5.

So far so good for the Sisters!

Note: some of the players who were announced as being in the field didn't seem to make it, notably Ya Ni Tseng and Amateur star Haeji Kang.

Scores:
1 -3 Ursula Wikstrom 70 - - - 70
T2 -2 Hee Young Park 71 - - - 71
T2 -2 Katherine Hull 71 - - - 71
T2 -2 Sarah Nicholson 71 - - - 71
T5 -1 Frances Bondad 72 - - - 72
T5 -1 Ji-Yai Shin 72 - - - 72
T5 -1 Karrie Webb 72 - - - 72
T5 -1 Kristie Smith 72 - - - 72
T5 -1 Lindsey Wright 72 - - - 72
T5 -1 Michelle Ellis 72 - - - 72

Notables:
T11 Ev Minea Blomqvist 73 - - - 73
T11 Ev Sarah Oh 73 - - - 73
T15 +1 Clare Choi 74 - - - 74
T15 +1 Helen Oh 74 - - - 74
T15 +1 Joanne Mills 74 - - - 74
T15 +1 Karin Sjodin 74 - - - 74
T15 +1 Laura Davies 74 - - - 74
T15 +1 Linda Wessberg 74 - - - 74
T15 +1 Tiffany Joh 74 - - - 74
T27 +2 Amy Yang 75 - - - 75
T27 +2 Ashleigh Simon 75 - - - 75
T27 +2 Birdie Kim 75 - - - 75
T27 +2 Jill Mcgill 75 - - - 75
T27 +2 Mi Sun Cho 75 - - - 75
T27 +2 Mi-Jung Hur 75 - - - 75
T44 +3 Diana D'Alessio 76 - - - 76
T44 +3 Ha-Neul Kim 76 - - - 76
T44 +3 Maggie Yuan 76 - - - 76
T44 +3 Nikki Garrett 76 - - - 76
T44 +3 Titiya Plucksataporn 76 - - - 76
T55 +4 Ayako Uehara 77 - - - 77
T55 +4 Ji-Yae Yeo 77 - - - 77
T55 +4 Sakura Yokomine 77 - - - 77
T68 +5 Eun-Hee Kim 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Gwladys Nocera 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Hee-Kyung Seo 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Hiromi Kamata 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Ludivine Kreutz 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Min-Gee Song 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Na Yeon Choi 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Paula Marti 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Rui Yokomine 78 - - - 78
T68 +5 Tamie Durdin 78 - - - 78
T86 +6 Ellie Na 79 - - - 79
T86 +6 Ji Won Yoon 79 - - - 79
T86 +6 Ji-Na Lim 79 - - - 79
T86 +6 Louise Stahle 79 - - - 79
T103 +7 Bobea Park 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Cecilia Nha 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Jenny Lee 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Kiran Matharu 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Nikki Campbell 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Stephanie Na 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Sunny Park 80 - - - 80
T103 +7 Yuki Sakurai 80 - - - 80
T124 +8 Lynn Brooky 81 - - - 81
T124 +8 Ran Hong 81 - - - 81
T124 +8 Virada Nirapathpongporn 81 - - - 81
T134 +9 Bettina Hauert 82 - - - 82
T134 +9 Justine Lee 82 - - - 82 ?
T134 +9 Mianne Bagger 82 - - - 82
T134 +9 Samantha Head 82 - - - 82
T134 +9 Shani Waugh 82 - - - 82
T134 +9 Sophie Sandolo 82 - - - 82
T149 +11 Jane Suckling 84 - - - 84
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[HappyFan]

Here's an interesting story about Birdie playing at this week's event.

http://www.iseekgolf.com/news/7003-birdie-call-adds-depth-to-open

Birdie call adds depth to Open

by Liz White | 30 Jan 2008

Australian golfing organisers could hardly believe their luck when they took a phone call from 2005 US Open winner Birdie Kim back in November last year.


(Photo: Anthony Powter)

The Korean was asking if she could play in the Ladies Australian Open at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath this week. Thankfully for the fans, the organisers said yes.

The inclusion of Kim has bolstered the list of notables for the tournament regarded as Australia’s Ladies Major. She will be battling it out with defending champion Karrie Webb and one of the Australian Tour’s greatest international supporters, Britain’s Laura Davies. Up and coming Aussie girls, Nikki Garrett, Sarah Kemp and Katherine Hull will round out the star attractions.

“I rang them because Kingston Heath is one of the world’s Top 25 courses, so I really wanted to play,” Kim said.

And there is no doubt Kim did want to play, it’s just that she almost didn’t make it.

Standing at the airport in New Zealand on Monday, she had already checked in her luggage for the flight to Melbourne, when officials asked her for her visa. The problem was Kim didn’t have one.

“I didn’t think I needed one but I guess I am coming here on business so I needed a visa for that,” she said.

Frustratingly for Kim, she was stranded at the airport because Monday was Australia Day and all consulate offices were closed.

“I wasted two days in New Zealand so that was not very good,” she said.

“But I am here now so I just have to worry about playing.”

Kim arrived this morning and immediately headed out to play the course. She is impressed with the Kingston Heath layout and likes her chances.

She has spent the past month in Hamilton, New Zealand with other Korean golfers honing her skills for 2008. It has left her feeling confident and ready.

“It was really good it gave me a chance to work on a few things,” she said.

Add to that, her happiness at being married for just five weeks. Her husband is pro golfer BK Lee, who plays on the Asian circuit.

“It’s been good so far, although today he watched me play and told me I am swinging it too fast,” she said.

“I think I am swinging too fast because I have had two days doing nothing and my timing is just a bit out, I will go out this afternoon and do some putting and some practice to get it right.”

Kim says the key to victory this weekend will be the second shot.

“I need to get on in regulation, that will be important,” she said.

“If I don’t I will have to think what is better, landing short or just trying to get on, I need to be very accurate.”

Kim, who changed her name from Ju to Birdie on the advice of David Leadbetter, rates Webb as the favourite to lift the trophy on Sunday.

“I would say she would be 80% if it is not me!,” she said.

“There is also Laura who is such a good player, she won last week so she will also be doing well.”

After bursting on to the scene in 2005 with a memorable victory in the US Open, Kim’s career has not taken off as fast as she would have liked.

“In 2006 I had a hard time in my life,” she said.

“I played really bad and I was just not in the right mindset, I was too serious and I would get very sad when I did not play well.”

In 2007 Kim set about improving her approach to life on the pro circuit.

“Now when I go out on the golf course I try to have fun, after I play well or bad it doesn’t make me sad now.”

There is no doubt the approach helped her game. Last year Kim had two top ten finishes on the LPGA including runner up at the Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions. The second placing helped her pass the $1 million mark in career earnings.

In 2008 the 26 year-old has her sights set on even bigger things.

“I will just try to win twice this year, that is what I want; I also want to play steady and not too much up and down golf.”

If Kim does manage to snare one of those wins this weekend one thing is for sure. If she returns to Australia to defend her title, she will be welcomed with open arms – visa permitting.
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[Chigger]

[HappyFan]

Sarah Oh, who is in the field this week, very nearly won the previous Australian tour event as well. She was in the lead with one round to go, playing with Laura Davies, when a weird injury suddenly reoccurred. Read about it here:

http://www.iseekgolf.com/news/6993-davies-shows-the-rookie-how-its-done

Davies shows the rookie how it's done
by Liz White | 27 Jan 2008



Britain’s Laura Davies has served notice to next week’s Australian Open competitors with a two shot victory at today’s warm up tournament, the LG/Bing Lee NSW Open.

The 44-year-old Davies carded a solid five under round of 67 to hold off a determined challenge from pro rookie, Sarah Oh, who shot a two under round of 70 at Sydney’s Oatlands course. Sweden’s Lotta Wahlin finished third with a five under 211 total.

It was a drama packed final round with Oh starting the day a one shot leader over Queenslander Katherine Hull with Davies a further shot back on four under. The 19-year-old had several chances to take the trophy but it was Davies who prevailed, showing her class to the young gun with several clutch saves.

“I think the turning point was when Sarah hit it in close on eleven, and I came up short. I struggled with that hole all week and then I chipped in. She made her birdie putt anyway but I could have easily dropped two shots to her there but I ended up playing the hole in the same amount and that was a big momentum swing,” Davies said.

Describing her effort as 10 out 10, Davies said she was happy with her play but was also impressed with the way Oh hung in like a seasoned professional.

“She played very well she has already won a couple of weeks ago so she knows how to win. You know it doesn’t matter what the tournament is, you are under the pressure of winning a tournament, it doesn’t matter how big or small it is in money ranking and what everyone perceives it to be as important, it is still pressure.”

Oh handled the heat from the get go, opening up her round with a fabulous birdie while Hull bogeyed. It gave Oh a two shot lead after Davies parred the hole. It seemed a fairytale was about to unfold.

But unfortunately for Oh the odd clicking hip struck her on the second tee. The bizarre injury that has plagued her since Q school causes her hip to unexpectedly click in her backswing. As Oh swung the click was audible.

The 19 year-old was forced to pull out of her shot mid swing. It clearly rattled her.

“My hip cracked again,” said a frustrated Oh.

“I was just upset. The first hole it was fine but then it cracked again, I thought I had stretched it enough in the morning but I guess I didn’t.”

“I had to stand back, I got annoyed because under pressure it cracks more on me and I was just like ‘don’t crack the second time,’ and then I just hooked my tee shot left.”

Oh went on to bogey the hole and then the third before steadying with a solid birdie on the short par five fourth.

“After bogeying those holes I just said too bad if it cracks, just hit it.”

Oh then showed the style that made her one of Australia’s leading amateurs and was able to secure several birdies on the way home. Although she was pleased with her second placing, Oh believes she let some chances slip.

“I played a little scrappy today I have to say. I didn’t hit many greens today, I was feeling a bit nervous I think that caused it and my hip but other than that I think I hung in there pretty well considering I didn’t hit it that great,” she said.

“I would have loved to have won but hey, it’s Laura.”

Oh believes the experience of playing in the last group with her all time favourite player, Davies, will only help to improve her game.

“I learned a lot from her about how she recovered her shots when she was in the trees and in the rough and if she hit a bad chip she still recovered with her next shot which today I didn’t do. She was just focussed yet she looks relaxed.”

While Oh was a touch disappointed, spare a thought for her other playing partner, Katherine Hull. The 25 year-old Queenslander was unable to find any rhythm today, and despite getting her card to six under at one stage, she slipped down the leader board to finish in 11th spot on two under 214 for the 54 holes.

Ireland’s Lydia Hall had a good round of two under 70 to finish fourth on a total of four under 212 while one of the UK’s brightest, Melissa Reid rounded out the top five with a brilliant four under round of 68 for a total 213. She tied with the defending champion and Oatlands’s member Joanne Mills who shot a 71 today.

The leading amateur title was jointly shared by Oatlands’s member Jenny Lee and West Australia’s Kristy Smith for a total of two under 214.

And although Queenslander Bronwyn Mullins-Lane didn’t figure on the leader board her bank account was boosted by a hole in one on the 9th. The 29-year-old took the $1000 sponsors prize money plus another $1080 from the players’ hole in one kitty. Not a bad day after all.

AND here's a little more about her weird injury problem:

SHRUGGING off the distraction of the odd click in her hip on her backswing, Sarah Oh posted a four-under-par 68 in yesterday's LG Bing Lee NSW Women's Open.

Several times she had to abruptly stop her swing, step away and start again.

This happened at the short 18th, where the Korean-born Oh planted her ball 6m from the cup and rolled in the putt for her fifth birdie of the day.

Of the annoying click in her backswing, she said: "It's something I try to block out.

"I have to have my hip cracked by the chiro and do lots of stretching before I play.''

It demands extraordinary mental toughness to cope with such a problem while playing tournament golf at the highest level.

Oh, a professional golfer for only five months, has a card to play the LPGA Futures Tour in the US, where she will take part in her first tournament in March.

Summing up yesterday's round, she said: "I hit a lot of good shots and I'm happy with my course management.''

Oh, 19, won a swag of tournaments in the amateur ranks, including the 2005 Australian Amateur Championship.
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[PHILK_NJ]

Sarah Oh should try ear plugs.

Round 2:

Shin


Birdie

[HappyFan]

Ji Yai Shin and Hee Young Park played in the morning in round two, and both did well. At one point, in fact, Shin climbed into the lead at 5 under total, but two late bogies sunk her to 3 under in the end. Hee Young, meanwhile, was shooting a 2 under round, but also suffered two late bogies to fall to even for the day and a 2 under total.











The leader after day one was 19 year old amateur Kristie Smith, who wound up with a 5 under total. Shin ended up second, though, with Hee Young tied for third with defending champ Karrie Webb and another Aussie, LPGA player Lindsey Wright. The two Korean stars are perfectly placed to make a run this weekend. And considering they are my two favorite players in the field, I couldn't be more pleased!!

The best round of the day for the Koreans, however, was turned in by KLPGA budding star Bo Bae Park. She became the first Korean all week to shoot in the 60s when she produced a 4 under par 69. However, she started the week with an 80, so she's still well back in the field. The only other Korean under par on day 2 was Birdie Kim, who shot a one under par 72 and now sits at 1 over total. (Note that they call Bobae Park 'Bobea', but her first name is spelled identically to Bo Bae Song's, so until further notice, I'm going to assume there's been a spelling error).

Amy Yang, Tiffany Joh and Sarah Oh are also in the top 20.

The only real surprise on the bad side was Sunny Park, a young Korean who recently turned pro and has already won an event. She shot a 91 (!!!) on Friday and finished second to last in the field. Woh. Mi Sun Cho also missed the cut, and so did Virada NP3.

Good luck on the weekend to the Koreans, particularly Hee Young and Ji Yai!!!

Scores:
1 -5 Kristie Smith 72 69 - - 141
2 -3 Ji-Yai Shin 72 71 - - 143
T3 -2 Hee Young Park 71 73 - - 144
T3 -2 Karrie Webb 72 72 - - 144
T3 -2 Lindsey Wright 72 72 - - 144
T6 -1 Carri Wood 75 70 - - 145
T6 -1 Kirsty S Taylor 77 68 - - 145
T8 Ev Katherine Hull 71 75 - - 146
T8 Ev Sarah Nicholson 71 75 - - 146

Notables:
T10 +1 Birdie Kim 75 72 - - 147
T12 +2 Amy Yang 75 73 - - 148
T12 +2 Ashleigh Simon 75 73 - - 148
T12 +2 Jill Mcgill 75 73 - - 148
T12 +2 Michelle Ellis 72 76 - - 148
T12 +2 Minea Blomqvist 73 75 - - 148
T18 +3 Bobea Park 80 69 - - 149
T18 +3 Clare Choi 74 75 - - 149
T18 +3 Frances Bondad 72 77 - - 149
T18 +3 Gwladys Nocera 78 71 - - 149
T18 +3 Laura Davies 74 75 - - 149
T18 +3 Sarah Oh 73 76 - - 149
T18 +3 Tiffany Joh 74 75 - - 149
T28 +4 Ayako Uehara 77 73 - - 150
T28 +4 Ha-Neul Kim 76 74 - - 150
T28 +4 Hee-Kyung Seo 78 72 - - 150
T28 +4 Ji-Yae Yeo 77 73 - - 150
T28 +4 Karin Sjodin 74 76 - - 150
T28 +4 Mi-Jung Hur 75 75 - - 150
T28 +4 Rui Yokomine 78 72 - - 150
T37 +5 Na Yeon Choi 78 73 - - 151
T42 +6 Cecilia Nha 80 72 - - 152
T42 +6 Helen Oh 74 78 - - 152
T42 +6 Linda Wessberg 74 78 - - 152
T42 +6 Ursula Wikstrom 70 82 - - 152
T54 +7 Ji-Na Lim 79 74 - - 153
T54 +7 Paula Marti 78 75 - - 153
T54 +7 Tamie Durdin 78 75 - - 153
T54 +7 Yuki Sakurai 80 73 - - 153
T63 +8 Kiran Matharu 80 74 - - 154
T63 +8 Nikki Garrett 76 78 - - 154
T63 +8 Sakura Yokomine 77 77 - - 154
T63 +7 Samantha Head 82 71 - - 153

=============Cut +8 ====================

T73 +9 Jenny Lee 80 75 - - 155
T73 +9 Mi Sun Cho 75 80 - - 155
T73 +9 Sophie Sandolo 82 73 - - 155
T73 +9 Titiya Plucksataporn 76 79 - - 155
T83 +10 Ludivine Kreutz 78 78 - - 156
T83 +10 Ran Hong 81 75 - - 156
T90 +11 Ellie Na 79 78 - - 157
T90 +11 Eun-Hee Kim 78 79 - - 157
T90 +11 Louise Stahle 79 78 - - 157
T90 +11 Maggie Yuan 76 81 - - 157
T90 +11 Nikki Campbell 80 77 - - 157
T101 +12 Diana D'Alessio 76 82 - - 158
T101 +12 Hiromi Kamata 78 80 - - 158
T101 +12 Lynn Brooky 81 77 - - 158
T114 +13 Min-Gee Song 78 81 - - 159
T120 +14 Bettina Hauert 82 78 - - 160
T120 +14 Stephanie Na 80 80 - - 160
T120 +14 Virada Nirapathpongporn 81 79 - - 160
T129 +14 Ji Won Yoon 79 81 - - 160
T142 +17 Mianne Bagger 82 81 - - 163
T145 +18 Shani Waugh 82 82 - - 164
148 +19 Jane Suckling 84 81 - - 165
T152 +22 Justine Lee 82 86 - - 168
154 +25 Sunny Park 80 91 - - 171
155 +31 Nicole Picken 91 86 - - 177
WD - Sophie Giquel 76 - - - WD
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[HappyFan]

Ellie Na is also a Korean golfer. She missed the cut this week, but will play at the ANZ Ladies Masters next week. Here's a neat story about her:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23143023-10389,00.html

Gold Coast 13-year-old Ellie Na skips school for golf

GOLD Coast schoolgirl Ellie Na skipped class on Thursday to take on some of the world's best golfers at the Australian Open in Melbourne.



Instead of spending the day with her Year 7 classmates at St Hilda's school at Southport, Ellie was jousting with the likes of Karrie Webb and Laura Davies at the testing Kingston Heath course.
At 13 years 10 months and four days, Ellie is believed to be the youngest player (male or female) to contest an Australian Open.

Slightly disappointed after an opening round 78, Ellie's received a boost last night with a surprise wildcard invitation to play next week's ANZ Ladies Masters in her own "backyard" on the Gold Coast.

"I was a bit nervous and my score wasn't too good today," she said. "But I think I learnt a lot."

Korean-born Ellie moved to the Gold Coast with her family three years ago, primarily to develop her golf game. She plays of a scratch handicap at Emerald Lakes club.

"My short game (chipping and putting) is probably the best part of my golf and Annika Sorenstam is my hero," she said.

Another Gold Coast-based Korean teenager, Amy Yang, stunned the golf world two years ago when she won the ANZ Ladies Masters as a 16-year-old amateur.

Ellie's coach, Tony Wells, said she has "strong self-belief and a great work ethic".

"If you set Ellie a challenge, she just does it," he said.

The youngster has been a member of the Greg Norman junior golf foundation for two years and is a Queensland schools representative.

"She's obvioulsy a talented young player and we look forward to seeing her in action at the ANZ Ladies Masters next week," said tournament chairman Bob Tuohy.

"We're delighted to give her an invitation . . . it's the spirit of ths Masters to recognise and develop young talent."

FOOTNOTE: Alexis Thompson was aged 12 years four months and one day when she qualified for last year's US Women's Open. She is the youngest player to contest a recognised Open championship.
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[Chigger]

Thanks for the update and the story about Ellie! And as always, thanks to everyone who hunts down pics from the events...

I'm about ready for a full field LPGA event

- SSFanBert
_________________
"I got a job in Atlanta in a mall playing Santa /
Not because of any talent but because /
I was the only one the suit would fit"

-- Alice Cooper, "No Man's Land"

[HappyFan]

In round three, the conditions stayed tough. The lowest score of the day was a 69, but no Korean came close to that.

At the start of the day, Hee Young Park and Ji Yai Shin were both near the top of the leaderboard. Shin played pretty well, although even she was not able to go under par. She shot a +1 74, over par by once again bogeying the final hole. Karrie Webb also bogied the last hole, but she shot a 73. Both of those players were tied at 2 under total.







Hee Young started at -2, but it was a rough day. She shot 5 bogies, two birdies and a double bogey and was +5, falling way down to +3. In fact, her last two holes were bogey-double bogey, so up until those final two holes, she was still at even par total and well in the hunt.

The leader was Australian Lindsey Wright, who ended the day at 3 under, just a shot ahead of Webb and Shin. The Australian amateur Kristie Smith, who led after two rounds, went +4 on the day and fell to -1, still in the tournament, but two shots out of the lead.

On the plus side, Amy Yang had a great day, moving to +1 total, four shots back. She still has a shot if she can get the job done tomorrow. Na Yeon Choi, Hee Young Park, Hee Kyung Seo and Birdie Kim are all tied for 10th at +3.

Good luck to Ji Yai Shin tomorrow!! Here's hoping she can get that first win outside of Asia! And best of luck to Amy Yang, Birdie, Hee Young and the rest!! Korea fighting!!!

Scores:
1 -3 Lindsey Wright 72 72 72 - 216
T2 -2 Ji-Yai Shin 72 71 74 - 217
T2 -2 Karrie Webb 72 72 73 - 217
T4 -1 Kristie Smith 72 69 77 - 218
T4 -1 Melissa Reid 73 76 69 - 218
6 +1 Amy Yang 75 73 72 - 220
T7 +2 Katherine Hull 71 75 75 - 221
T7 +2 Kirsty S Taylor 77 68 76 - 221
T7 +2 Rui Yokomine 78 72 71 - 221

Notables:
T10 +3 Birdie Kim 75 72 75 - 222
T10 +3 Carri Wood 75 70 77 - 222
T10 +3 Frances Bondad 72 77 73 - 222
T10 +3 Gwladys Nocera 78 71 73 - 222
T10 +3 Hee Young Park 71 73 78 - 222
T10 +3 Hee-Kyung Seo 78 72 72 - 222
T10 +3 Na Yeon Choi 78 73 71 - 222
T10 +3 Yuki Sakurai 80 73 69 - 222
T19 +4 Ashleigh Simon 75 73 75 - 223
T19 +4 Ayako Uehara 77 73 73 - 223
T19 +4 Bobea Park 80 69 74 - 223
T19 +4 Ha-Neul Kim 76 74 73 - 223
T19 +4 Joanne Mills 74 79 70 - 223
T19 +4 Mi-Jung Hur 75 75 73 - 223
T29 +6 Clare Choi 74 75 76 - 225
T29 +6 Karin Sjodin 74 76 75 - 225
T29 +6 Minea Blomqvist 73 75 77 - 225
T29 +6 Tamie Durdin 78 75 72 - 225
T29 +6 Tiffany Joh 74 75 76 - 225
T40 +7 Ji-Yae Yeo 77 73 76 - 226
T40 +7 Paula Marti 78 75 73 - 226
T40 +7 Sarah Oh 73 76 77 - 226
T40 +7 Ursula Wikstrom 70 82 74 - 226
T47 +8 Ji-Na Lim 79 74 74 - 227
T47 +8 Michelle Ellis 72 76 79 - 227
T52 +9 Helen Oh 74 78 76 - 228
T52 +9 Jill Mcgill 75 73 80 - 228
T52 +9 Laura Davies 74 75 79 - 228
T52 +9 Nikki Garrett 76 78 74 - 228
T52 +9 Sakura Yokomine 77 77 74 - 228
T65 +11 Cecilia Nha 80 72 78 - 230
71 +14 Kiran Matharu 80 74 79 - 233
72 +18 Linda Wessberg 74 78 85 - 237
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Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com