South Koreans dominate the season-opening JLPGA Daikin Orchid – Golf update
The first episode of the Japan ladies Professional Golfers Association (JLPGA) concluded on Sunday with Park In Bee of south Korea winning the Daikin Orchid Ladies when she overcame a three-shot deficit. South Koreans dominated the show clenching four top
slots with Miki Saiki being the only Japanese who was the runners up.
Daikin Orchid Ladies is the season-opening match of the JLPGA Okinawa Prefecture tour held at Ryukyu Golf club, a 6,439 yards par 72 golf course. Among all the 34 events held last year, 15 of them were won by the budding South Korean ladies golfers although
their representation in the tournaments was only 20 percent.
Park is also the youngest golfer to have won the US Open Championship in 2008 at the age of 19. She is currently world number 13 in the women’s golf rankings and is working hard to break into the top 10. Park played amazing golf throughout the tournament
and was able to putt seven birdies only in her final round, one of them coming all the way from 16 feet downhill. "This was my third start of the year after playing (U.S. LPGA events) in Thailand and Singapore, but I was at my best on the greens," park said
while talking to the press. Among others on the top four positions was Miki Saiki of Japan with 72-67-66—205, Lee Bo Mee, S. Korea 72-70-67—209, Shin Ji Ya 71-68-70—209 also from South Korea.
Last year’s Daikin Orchid ladies was also won by South Korean Ahn Sun Ju who became the first foreigner to win this tournament. Park has come a long way from her first professional win in the US Open, "I've experienced a variety of the greens through playing
in U.S. and Japan LPGA events, so that might be one of the reasons I can adjust to all kinds of the greens," a jubilant Park said.
Park is one of the promising ladies golfers for South Korea who won twice and finished at sixth in just 14 appearances worldwide and is one of the ace players of the South Korean ladies golf team, which has already overshadowed several leading golf nations.
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