Jiyai Shin off to sizzling start in Japan
South Korean Jiyai Shin started her first round of Mizuno Classic 2012 in grand style as she shot three back-to-back birdies on the back nine.
Shin, who won the 2010 edition of the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournament, was calm and composed when she teed off on Friday at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club, Shima-s**+,
Mie, Japan.
Starting the round on the back nine, Shin parred the 10th and difficult par-3 11th. She swung into action and reeled off three straight birdies from 12th to
14th, cementing her position on the leaderboard.
The South Korean star is among the favourites for the coveted title as she has enough experience of the course and line-up.
Heartened by massive crowd support, Shin avoided making lousy putts on most of the holes, which helped her post a bogey-free score on the back nine.
She then clobbered her way through most of the holes on the front nine without a major slip-up, but misjudged a putt on the greens of 9th hole, carding a bogey.
Her first-round score is a 68, which can help her further boost her position on the leaderboard in the next two rounds.
The LPGA titan turned professional in 2005 and has been performing well since. She has been recording victories since 2008, as the total number of her LPGA titles has now reached 10.
The golfing sensation has recorded two victories in the current season.
Used to playing in tough conditions, Shin put into practice her vital skill in Japan as well. In her interview at the Ricoh Women’s British Open 2012, which she won for the second time, she
said she likes playing tricky holes.
“Even when I played in Asia, like Korea and Japan when the weather's bad sometimes when I'm playing, I played a couple holes and then they just cancel the tournament,” she said.
In 2008, she rose to fame after she grabbed her maiden major title at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. She then won the Mizuno Classic and ADT Championship in November.
Similarly, she won another three titles in the 2009 season, beating rivals at HSBC Women’s Champions, Wegmans LPGA and P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship.
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