Women golfers shoot for CJ Classic

Korean female golfers who have become dominant forces on the LPGA Tour have returned to Korea this week to participate in the CJ Nine Bridges Classic, to be held on Jeju island beginning Friday.
Grace Park, Pak Se-ri, Kim Mi-hyun, Han Hee-won and Ahn Shi-hyun departed from Los Angeles after playing in the Samsung World Championship, which ended Sunday.
Amid a yearlong slump, Pak took a month off prior to the Samsung tournament to regroup. “It was time for me to reflect on my play and to become more mature,” she said. “Although I lost my grip on my drive shot, I can still fix it.”
She left for Japan on Wednesday to participate in the JLPGA Tour Masters GC Ladies Championship.
Park, who finished second in the Samsung tournament, said, “I hope I can clear up the runner-up jinx.”
Ahn was last year’s champion at the CJ Nine Bridges Classic. She had been invited to play although she was not on the LPGA Tour. She said, “I like the course. I would like to win again.”
Kim, returning to Korea for the first time this year, said she felt in top condition.
After the CJ Classic, all except Pak will play in the Mizuno Classic in Japan next month.

by Sung Ho-jun