Grace Park leads them a merry dance in Korea
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2004 CJ Nine Bridges Classic | Wrap | 31 Oct 2004
Grace Park might have made a shaky start on day three of the CJ Nine Bridges event in Korea today, but by the time she had finished the only ones shaking were those who had to follow in her wake.
She entered the last day all tied up with Kate Golden but after a bogey at the first she was quickly into gear with three birdies before the turn and ultimately a five shot win over Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch. Defending champion, Shi Hyun Ahn, shared fourth with Jeong Jang and the ever present Lorena Ochoa who birdied the last two holes. Ahn’s last hole bogey saw her lose a share of second late in the day.
Both Park and Ahn were returning to Korea as superstars not only of Korean and LPGA golf, but of Korean sport generally. Park has had yet another fine year in the US, winning her first major at the Kraft Nabisco and recording seven other top three placings. Ahn, who used her win here last year to leapfrog onto the LPGA Tour, has just be named as the Rookie of the Year on the LPGA Tour and while Se Ri Pak’s star has dimmed a little this year, her two countrywomen have stepped up to the plate.
The win will move Park to number three on the ADT Money list, albeit some US$800,000 behind Sorenstam but only $3000 behind Ochoa. She has moved just ahead of her 2003 earnings with still one event in Japan, a new event in Alabama, and the Tour Championship to complete the year.
The only Australian to compete in the event was Rachel Teske who seems to have lost her way in recent weeks. Teske finished 63rd while the only other Australian to start the event never finished that being Michelle Ellis who withdrew after a first round 78.
