Se Ri the leader of the Pak at Michelob Ultra Open
IN: News | LPGA | Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill (2004) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 10 May 2004
It may have taken her a few extra events to get across the line this year but now that she has done so, Se Ri Pak is destined to make this the first of many in 2004.
Normally by now, or at least in the last three years it has been the case, Pak has won at least one event, although to be fair she has she has still been playing very well. She has not finished outside of the top sixteen in her first five events, three of those top tens, so it appeared as if it would be just a matter of time and it was.
Pak, who is now in her seventh year on the LPGA Tour, has been a prolific accumulator of titles and money in that time. Today's title was ther 22nd and her career earnings now stand at $US7.8 million and fourth place on the all time money winners list. The US$330,000 available here was one of the richer first prize purses on tour.
The overnight lead had been held by both Christie Kerr and Lorena Ochoa and with Kerr off to a disastrous start today, it appeared very early in the day as if the long awaited first win for the brilliant Mexican, Ochoa, may be at hand. Pak saw things differently however and her outward nine of 32 had her trailing Ochoa by just one as she turned for home. Ochoa would bogey the tenth to fall back to a share of the lead and when Pak continued her birdie run at the 11th, Ochoa had no answer. Even a bogey at the 15th seemed not to bother Pak and gave little hope to her chasers as she cruised in for a two shot win over Ochoa and Inkster.
The 22-year-old Ochoa seemed distracted when, along with her playing partner Christie Kerr, she was put on the clock in the middle of her round. They had fallen behind the group in front and were under the gun from that point on to both make up time and put that distraction aside.
As a result of the win Pak now qualifies to join both the World Golf and LPGA Halls of Fame although she will need to wait another three years until her ten year membership of the LPGA Tour kicks in. Along with points accumulated from wins there is a ten year membership criteria also in order for her to be eligible to join the likes of Annika Sorenstam who is already there, and Karrie Webb who will be there next year.
Juli Inkster, who became a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1999, was home in 32 to share second with Ochoa, two behind Pak with Australian Wendy Doolan and Korean Hee-Won Han sharing fourth, three shots further back.
Annika Sorenstam surprised somewhat with her 8th place here and 14-year-old Michelle Wie continues to defy logic with her 12th placing.
Of the other Australasians Karrie Webb was home in 30 for 67 and a share of 11th place, Nadina Taylor was 37th, Shani Waugh and Joanne Mills 57th, Karen Pearce 63rd and Rachel Teske a surprising 68th.
The LPGA Tour moves to Tennessee for the Franklin American Mortgage Championship.
