Most Popular
-
1
Dongduk Women’s University halts coeducation talks
-
2
Russia sent 'anti-air' missiles to Pyongyang, Yoon's aide says
-
3
Defense ministry denies special treatment for BTS’ V amid phone use allegations
-
4
OpenAI in talks with Samsung to power AI features, report says
-
5
Two jailed for forcing disabled teens into prostitution
-
6
Disney+ offers sneak peek at 2025 lineup of Korean originals
-
7
South Korean military plans to launch new division for future warfare
-
8
Gold bars and cash bundles; authorities confiscate millions from tax dodgers
-
9
Teen smoking, drinking decline, while mental health, dietary habits worsen
-
10
Kia EV9 GT marks world debut at LA Motor Show
The South Korean contingent on the LPGA Tour enjoyed another successful season in 2013, led by the world No. 1 Park In-bee. With Park reigning supreme on the tour, two of her compatriots, both in their mid-20s, earned their maiden LPGA victories this year.
The 2013 season concluded with the CME Group Titleholders in Florida on Sunday. And a year after winning eight events, South Koreans combined for 10 victories in 2013, further cementing their status as the most dominant group of players from outside the United States.
Park accounted for more than half of the tally, with six victories, including the first three major championships of the season. She claimed the Player of the Year honors and the money title with $2.45 million. She has remained in the top spot in the world rankings since first reaching the position on April 15.
Park is the first South Korean to become the Player of the Year and to win back-to-back LPGA money titles.
The 25-year-old cooled off in the second half, after capturing the U.S. Women’s Open in the final week of June. But she’d built sizeable leads in the money and the Player of the Year points race that even a late-surge by Suzann Pettersen wasn’t enough to prevent Park from accomplishing the impressive double.
Pettersen ended in second place on both the money list and the Player of the Year race, having earned four victories, including one major.
Another South Korean, Shin Ji-yai, won the 2013 season-opener ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February, providing a glimpse of things to come for her compatriots.
Park won the following week in Thailand in her season debut, and added two more wins in April, including the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
She capped off her remarkable run with three consecutive victories in June, sweeping up back-to-back majors at the Wegmans LPGA Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.
In between, Lee Il-hee won the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic in May for her first-ever victory.
It was a feel-good win for the 24-year-old, who joined the LPGA Tour in 2010 but had played so poorly that in December 2011, she even tried to return to South Korea and qualify for the Korean LPGA Tour.
Lee failed to earn her KLPGA playing privileges, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, now that she has a U.S. win in her bag and made just under $600,000 in 2013.
Two weeks after Park won the U.S. Women’s Open, Park Hee-young captured the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic for her second LPGA win and her first since November 2011.
Park Hee-young defeated Angela Stanford in a sudden-death playoff, after the two ended the regulation at 26-under 258, tying the LPGA Tour record for the lowest 72-hole score. In October, Amy Yang, 24, joined Lee Il-hee as a first-time winner on the tour. Yang edged out fellow South Korean Seo Hee-kyung in a playoff to win the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship, the only LPGA Tour event held in Korea each season. (Yonhap News)
The 2013 season concluded with the CME Group Titleholders in Florida on Sunday. And a year after winning eight events, South Koreans combined for 10 victories in 2013, further cementing their status as the most dominant group of players from outside the United States.
Park accounted for more than half of the tally, with six victories, including the first three major championships of the season. She claimed the Player of the Year honors and the money title with $2.45 million. She has remained in the top spot in the world rankings since first reaching the position on April 15.
Park is the first South Korean to become the Player of the Year and to win back-to-back LPGA money titles.
The 25-year-old cooled off in the second half, after capturing the U.S. Women’s Open in the final week of June. But she’d built sizeable leads in the money and the Player of the Year points race that even a late-surge by Suzann Pettersen wasn’t enough to prevent Park from accomplishing the impressive double.
Pettersen ended in second place on both the money list and the Player of the Year race, having earned four victories, including one major.
Another South Korean, Shin Ji-yai, won the 2013 season-opener ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February, providing a glimpse of things to come for her compatriots.
Park won the following week in Thailand in her season debut, and added two more wins in April, including the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
She capped off her remarkable run with three consecutive victories in June, sweeping up back-to-back majors at the Wegmans LPGA Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.
In between, Lee Il-hee won the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic in May for her first-ever victory.
It was a feel-good win for the 24-year-old, who joined the LPGA Tour in 2010 but had played so poorly that in December 2011, she even tried to return to South Korea and qualify for the Korean LPGA Tour.
Lee failed to earn her KLPGA playing privileges, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, now that she has a U.S. win in her bag and made just under $600,000 in 2013.
Two weeks after Park won the U.S. Women’s Open, Park Hee-young captured the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic for her second LPGA win and her first since November 2011.
Park Hee-young defeated Angela Stanford in a sudden-death playoff, after the two ended the regulation at 26-under 258, tying the LPGA Tour record for the lowest 72-hole score. In October, Amy Yang, 24, joined Lee Il-hee as a first-time winner on the tour. Yang edged out fellow South Korean Seo Hee-kyung in a playoff to win the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship, the only LPGA Tour event held in Korea each season. (Yonhap News)
-
Articles by Korea Herald
