Golfweek - Golf News Magazine

By BETH ANN BALDRY
Senior Writer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Hee Young Park is one of two KLPGA pros vying for a card this week, a smaller number than recent years. There are 16 Koreans in the field but only Hee Young Park and Na Yeon Choi compete regularly on their home tour. As the KLPGA’s tournament schedule strengthens, more Korean players are starting to see the benefits of staying close to home.

Park, however, put in her mandatory two years on the KLPGA and came to Q-School as soon as she was eligible. So far her dream seems within reach after carding a 5-under 67 over the Legends Course Nov. 29 to finish the second round tied for third. Choi followed her 68 with a 74 and sits tied for 14th.

Jane Park continues to set the pace after two rounds, shooting 65-70 to hold a three-shot lead. Tracy Hanson carded the day’s low round (66) to tie Park at 5-under 139.

Missing from this year’s field is Ji Yai Shin, the KLPGA hotshot who won nine times on tour this year and was in contention at the U.S. Women’s Open. Shin and her family aren’t ready to leave Korea, where she’s considered the next Se Ri Pak. Her father, a minister who caddies every day but Sunday, isn’t a big fan of American food or travelling.

As for Park, she can’t wait to begin a new life in the U.S. She hired a tutor last year to teach her English and can conduct interviews with very little help. She loves American fans, the practice facilities and even the food.

“I’ve prepared the whole year for this week,” said Park, who was No. 2 on the money list to Shin. “It’s very important for my life.”

Down-under wonders: Amy Yang, the youngest winner in Ladies European Tour history, is making her first attempt at LPGA Q-School, just two weeks after she graduated high school. She’s T-45 at 1-over 145 (72-73).

If she doesn’t earn her LPGA card, the 18-year-old is exempt on the LET until 2009 thanks to her victory at the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters. She won that tournament as a 16-year-old amateur.

Yang was also the low amateur at the 2006 Weetabix Women’s British Open and made the cut in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

On the flip side, Nikki Garrett, the Aussie who struck the historic first shot at St. Andrews this summer at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, had a rough time Thursday over the more demanding Legends Course. Garrett followed her opening 2-under 70 with an 83 to fall to a tie for 117th.

What you need to know: Seventeen cards are up for grabs this week. In the event of a tie on Sunday, a three-hole playoff will commence over Nos. 9, 10 and 18 at the Legends Course. If players are still tied after three holes, a sudden-death playoff will begin rotating between Nos. 10 and 18.

On the upswing: Kelli Kuehne followed up her first-round 67 with a 1-under 71 to remain in second place, a surprising turnaround considering she missed 11 cuts and made only $46,191 in 19 starts this year.

“I’ve been on a mission the past seven weeks to get ready,” Kuehne said.

Kuehne also credited her good play to having longtime instructor Tracy Phillips on the bag this week.

He’s taught Kuehne for 17 years, but also caddied for her in 1999, when she won her only LPGA title, and 2000.

“He caddied for me when I won the (1994 U.S. Girls’ Junior),” she said. “That’s how far we go back.”

Quote of the day: “I like to dress up,” – LPGA caddie Thomas Frank, aka “Motion,” on his penchant for wearing ties to work.

• • •

Beth Ann Baldry is a Golfweek senior writer. To reach her e-mail bbaldry@golfweek.com.

Sean Martin contributed.

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Scores with relation to par from the second round of LPGA Q-School, played Nov. 29 at LPGA International's par-72 Legends Course and par-72 Champions Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Note: a-amateur; top 17 players earn fully exempt status, next 35 and ties earn non-exempt status):

1. Jane Park	65-70—135			-9
2. Kelli Kuehne	67-71—138			-6
3. Hee Young Park	72-67—139			-5
3. Tracy Hanson	73-66—139			-5
5. Sarah Lynn Sargent	69-71—140			-4
5. Carolina Llano	69-71—140			-4
5. Meredith Duncan	69-71—140			-4
5. Hannah Jun	73-67—140			-4
5. Ashleigh Simon	70-70—140			-4
10. Hwan Hee Lee	70-71—141			-3
10. Russy Gulyanamitta	69-72—141			-3
10. Sarah Kemp	71-70—141			-3
10. Liz Janangelo	70-71—141			-3
14. Su A Kim	70-72—142			-2
14. Beth Allen	71-71—142			-2
14. Anja Monke	72-70—142			-2
14. Na Yeon Choi	68-74—142			-2
14. Jacqueline Yang	69-73—142			-2
14. Anna Grzebien	70-72—142			-2
14. Cindy Pasechnik	73-69—142			-2
14. Sofie Andersson	73-69—142			-2
14. Song Hee Kim	74-68—142			-2
14. Amie Cochran	72-70—142			-2
14. Sophie Giquel	72-70—142			-2
14. Emma Cabrera-Bello	73-69—142			-2
26. V. Nirapathpongporn	71-72—143			-1
26. Nicole Hage	71-72—143			-1
26. Christina Lecuyer	71-72—143			-1
26. Sukjin Lee Wuesthoff	69-74—143			-1
26. Yani Tseng	70-73—143			-1
26. Maru Martinez	72-71—143			-1
26. Eileen Vargas	73-70—143			-1
26. Becky Lucidi	72-71—143			-1
26. May Wood	72-71—143			-1
26. Danielle Downey	72-71—143			-1
36. Jamie Hullett	71-73—144			E
36. Louise Friberg	71-73—144			E
36. Adrienne White	70-74—144			E
36. Clarissa Childs	71-73—144			E
36. a-Shanshan Feng	72-72—144			E
36. Nontaya Srisawang	73-71—144			E
36. Taylor Leon	73-71—144			E
36. Sarah-Jane Kenyon	73-71—144			E
36. Nina Reis	73-71—144			E
45. Anna Rawson	72-73—145		+	1
45. Angela Jerman	72-73—145		+	1
45. Eun Jung Yi	73-72—145		+	1
45. Hana Kim	71-74—145		+	1
45. Leah Wigger	72-73—145		+	1
45. Amy Yang	72-73—145		+	1
45. Jennifer Gleason	73-72—145		+	1
45. Nicole Jeray	74-71—145		+	1
45. Chris Brady	75-70—145		+	1
45. Brandi Jackson	77-68—145		+	1
45. A. Hanna-Williams	74-71—145		+	1
45. L. Walker-Cooper	74-71—145		+	1
45. O. Sattayabanphot	74-71—145		+	1
58. Rachel Bailey	72-74—146		+	2
58. Kristina Tucker	70-76—146		+	2
58. Sarah Oh	70-76—146		+	2
58. Janell Howland	74-72—146		+	2
58. a-Sandra Gal	76-70—146		+	2
58. Michelle Ellis	75-71—146		+	2
58. Lauren Espinosa	75-71—146		+	2
65. Misun Cho	73-74—147		+	3
65. Kim Williams	74-73—147		+	3
65. Kelly Cap	74-73—147		+	3
65. Jennifer Greggain	73-74—147		+	3
65. Jeanne Cho-Hunicke	71-76—147		+	3
65. Simi Mehra	73-74—147		+	3
65. Samantha Head	73-74—147		+	3
65. Louise Stahle	75-72—147		+	3
65. Paula Marti	75-72—147		+	3
65. Kelly Lagedrost	76-71—147		+	3
65. Na Ri Kim	74-73—147		+	3
65. Kristen Samp	74-73—147		+	3
65. Audra Burks	74-73—147		+	3
65. Lisa Fernandes	74-73—147		+	3
79. Sarah Huarte	74-74—148		+	4
79. Hana Chae	76-72—148		+	4
79. Jimin Jeong	74-74—148		+	4
79. Mandy Goins	73-75—148		+	4
79. a-Kristie Smith	74-74—148		+	4
79. Jean Bartholomew	76-72—148		+	4
79. Tiffany Tavee	77-71—148		+	4
79. LeAnna Wicks	77-71—148		+	4
79. Song Choi	77-71—148		+	4
79. Mo Martin	77-71—148		+	4
79. Anastasia Kostina	77-71—148		+	4
90. Jennifer Ackerson	74-75—149		+	5
90. Catherine Matranga	74-75—149		+	5
90. Yeon Joo Lee	74-75—149		+	5
90. Christi Cano	71-78—149		+	5
90. Hanna Kang	73-76—149		+	5
90. Irene Cho	73-76—149		+	5
90. Paige Mackenzie	75-74—149		+	5
90. Ashley Prange	76-73—149		+	5
90. Sophia Sheridan	76-73—149		+	5
90. Dana Je	77-72—149		+	5
90. Lori Atsedes	75-74—149		+	5
90. Isabelle Beisiegel	76-73—149		+	5
90. Kim Welch	76-73—149		+	5
103. Whitney Wade	75-75—150		+	6
103. A.J. Eathorne	73-77—150		+	6
103. Riko Higashio	76-74—150		+	6
103. D'Rae Ward	78-72—150		+	6
103. Siew-Ai Lim	76-74—150		+	6
108. Jin Y. Pak	76-75—151		+	7
108. Annie Young	79-72—151		+	7
110. Sae Hee Son	75-77—152		+	8
110. Brooke Tull	74-78—152		+	8
110. Celeste Troche	74-78—152		+	8
110. Angie Hill	76-76—152		+	8
110. Shinah Ham	81-71—152		+	8
110. Ashley Gomes	78-74—152		+	8
110. Joanne Morley	76-76—152		+	8
117. Pornanong Phatlum	75-78—153		+	9
117. Vikki Laing	76-77—153		+	9
117. Nikki Garrett	70-83—153		+	9
117. Leah Hart	74-79—153		+	9
117. Lisa Ferrero	79-74—153		+	9
117. Shayna Miyajima	80-73—153		+	9
117. Michelle Simpson	76-77—153		+	9
117. Beth Bauer	76-77—153		+	9
125. a-Manuela Tarazona	78-76—154		+	10
126. Jin Hyun Kim	77-78—155		+	11
126. Lee-Anne Pace	81-74—155		+	11
128. Caryn Wilson	76-80—156		+	12
128. Vanessa Brockett	79-77—156		+	12
128. Danah Ford	81-75—156		+	12
131. Caroline Larsson	76-81—157		+	13
131. Kiran Matharu	83-74—157		+	13
133. P. Baxter-Johnson	79-79—158		+	14
134. Diane Irvin	83-76—159		+	15
135. Natalie Tucker	79-81—160		+	16

Posted: 11/29/2007

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