This week the KLPGA hosts the second to last event on the season’s schedule, and it’s another cosanctioned event. Last week they shared the bill with the LPGA, at the Kolon Hana Bank Championship (an event that includes KLPGA golfers but is not a full fledged KLPGA event, as the money earned there does not count towards official KLPGA money). This week’s event is the second playing of an event co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour. It is sponsored this season by Daishin Securities, and has the unwieldy name the Daishin Securities Tomato Tour Korean Ladies Masters.
The defending champion is Hee Kyung Seo, who won last year by reeling off four birdies to finish her final round, catching fellow KLPGA star Sun Ju Ahn in the process. At the time Seo had four wins on the season. This year, she once again enters this event with four wins for the year, looking for her fifth. But this time there is more at stake: a win here could go a long way towards helping her clinch Player of the Year and the money list lead for the first time in her career.
To win, of course, Seo would not only have to go through her top KLPGA rivals like So Yeon Ryu (with whom she would play in the first round), but several notable LPGA Koreans such as Young Kim and Joo Mi Kim, as well as many of the top stars from the Ladies European Tour, including tour leader Becky Brewerton, her other playing partner in round one.
So Yeon Ryu, Becky Brewerton and Hee Kyung Seo
Well, Hee Kyung got out to the kind of start she was looking for. She shot a five birdie, one bogey 68 to take over the lead at 4 under total. And she did that despite playing the afternoon and facing the tougher conditions. Ryu did not do so well. Struggling with her putting, she shot a 4 over 76 and is in a tough position to try to challenge her arch rival.
Hee Kyung Seo
Hee Kyung Seo
Among those finishing at 3 under are Anna Rawson, the only non-Korean in the top ten after round one, and 2009 tour winner Bo Mee Lee.
Bo Mee Lee
Another race that is coming close to its end is the Rookie of the Year battle. The top two rookies on tour both had good starts to their week. Soo Jin Yang shot a 70 and is tied for 6th, while Shin Ae Ahn is one stroke behind her, tied for 11th.
Two more rounds will settle it!
Scores:
1. Hee Kyung Seo 68 -4
2. Sarah Lee 69 -3
Hyun Ji Kim 69 -3
Anna Rawson 69 -3
Bo Mee Lee 69 -3
Notables:
6. Ae Ri Pyun 70 -2
Hyun Hee Moon 70 -2
Soo Jin Yang (R) 70 -2
11. Bo Kyung Kim 71 -1
Shin Ae Ahn (R) 71 -1
Aram Cho 71 -1
15. Minea Blomquist 72 Even
Frances Bondad 72 Even
Iben Tinning 72 Even
He Yong Choi 72 Even
23. Ha Neul Kim 73 +1
Ran Hong 73 +1
Jin Joo Hong 73 +1
Becky Brewerton 73 +1
34. Joo Mi Kim 74 +2
Ji Na Lim 74 +2
Il Mi Chung 74 +2
Jung Eun Lee 5 74 +2
47. Sung Ah Yim 75 +3
HJ Choi 75 +3
57. Young Kim 76 +4
Gwladys Nocera 76 +4
So Yeon Ryu 76 +4
69. Hye In Lee 77 +5
Seon Hwa Lee 2 (R) 77 +5
