KLPGA: 2009 Lotte Mart Women’s Open Rd 1

This week’s KLPGA event is the MBC Tour Lotte Mart Women’s Open, which takes place from April 15th – 17th at the Sky Hills Jeju Country Club.  Round 1 is in the books.  This week’s special guests from the LPGA are Korean American rookie Michelle Wie and LPGA tour winners Jin Joo Hong and Eun Hee Ji.  As you would expect, Michelle is getting the most attention, both because she is popular over there and because, unlike Ji and Hong, she never played full time on the KLPGA tour and is somewhat of a novelty.

Michelle is going to have some work ahead of her, because she struggled mightily in round one, carding a 77 to sit at 5 over par, one shot over the cut line. 

Michelle Wie has some tree trouble during round one

By contrast, the other two LPGA players both shot 71s on the somewhat tough course to sit at -1, just a shot out of the lead.

The lead is a huge block of six players, and over thirty players are within three shots of the lead, including most of the KLPGA’s top stars.  Among the players at the top of the leader board at 2 under is a rookie named Soo Jin Yang.  Yang is perhaps the most celebrated of the young players joining the tour this year.  She already notched two top tens last year in guest appearances on tour, and signed a lucrative off season deal with a company called NEFs.  Her first appearance on tour last week was not so great (tied for 30th), but she’s obviously gotten out to a great start this week!  With her looks, youth (she is just 17) and ability to hit the ball a loooong way, she has all the makings of a star.

Soo Jin Yang

 

Soo Jin Yang

 

Soo Jin has a lot of work ahead of her.  Just a shot back at one under are Eun Hee Ji, Jin Joo Hong, and tour stars So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo.  Ha Neul Kim and He Yong Choi are just another shot behind them at even par. 

Eun Hee Ji

Hee Kyung Seo

With so much fire power still in the hunt, this could get very intense over the next two days!

 Scores:
1. Soo Jin Yang (R) 70 -2
Seon Hwa Lee (2)  70 -2
Ji Na Lim 70 -2
Eun Bi Jang 70 -2
Ji Hye Jang 70 -2
Hae Won Jung 70 -2

Notables:
7. Eun Hee Ji 71 -1
Ae Ri Pyun 71 -1
Jin Joo Hong 71 -1
Il Hee Lee 71 -1
So Yeon Ryu 71 -1
Hee Kyung Seo 71 -1
14. Sun Ju Ahn 72 Even
Ha Neul Kim 72 Even
Hae Jung Kim 72 Even
Young Ran Jo 72 Even
Woo Ri Choi 72 Even
He Yong Choi 72 Even
23. Bo Bea Park 73 +1
Soo Young Moon  73 +1
Hyun Hee Moon 73 +1
Hye Youn Kim 73 +1
Anna Oh 73 +1
34. Jung Eun Lee (5) 74 +2
Ha Na Chae 74 +2
44. Aram Cho 75 +3
Ran Hong 75 +3
Da Ye Na 75 +3
61. Chae Ah Oh 76 +4
77. Michelle Wie 77 +5
83. Bo Kyung Kim 78 +6