Pak And Parks Nearly Rally

Southern Pines, N.C. – The U.S. Women’s Open is where Se Ri Pak made her name. On Sunday, it was where she made her run.

Pak defeated amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn in a dramatic 20-hole playoff at the 1998 Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run, winning one of the more memorable weeks in the championship’s history. She tried to recreate the magic on Sunday at Pine Needles.

The 29-year old Pak, 1 over after two rounds, played her final 36 holes in six under par, carding consecutive rounds of 68 and the lowest fourth round score of the championship. Desperately chasing the leaders, Pak threw three last birdies on the board over her final four holes, getting to two under aggregate.

A late birdie on the 18th green was too little, too late for Angela Park. (Fred Vuich/USGA)

But over 72 holes of a USGA championship, it’s not always a case of ‘what have you done for me lately.’ Despite’s Pak’s pursuit, winner Cristie Kerr never backed down. Starting the final round at four under for the event, Kerr finished it at five under.

"You never know," Pak said. "The weather and the golf course conditions are not easy, so many things can happen. So I knew I have a chance. I worked really hard, and then, really, I am fighting all day long.

"Basically, I played two rounds for under par, which was pretty good on this golf course. I’m really happy about it; I just wish I did it earlier."

Pak was one of the many Korean-born players who challenged at Pine Needles. Twenty-six such players escaped the cut to advance to the 67-player final field. Another Korean native, 18 year old In-Bee Park, played alongside Pak in the final round – both literally and numerically.

Park started the final round at even par and joined Pak in rallying. Making the turn at par for the final round and the championship, Park birdied Nos. 10 and 15 to get to within three of the lead. Again, it just wasn’t quite enough.

Still, the native of Seoul, Korea, who now lives in Las Vegas, was pleased with her tie for third, her best finish in two Women’s Opens.

"Definitely," said Park, who needed only 26 putts to get around Pine Needles on Sunday. She led the championship in putting with a 1.53 average, a performance that is something to build on for an LPGA rookie that had missed cuts in six of her previous 12 starts.

"This is the best finish of my season and I think that this has to be a good start and I’ll play good throughout the season," Park added.

Park emphasized being paired with Pak, who is a LPGA Hall of Fame qualifier in waiting, was equally gratifying. "It’s really special," Park added. "Ten years ago, when Se Ri won in ’98, I watched it on TV and I just picked up the golf club then. So, 10 years later I’m playing with her. It’s really, really, really great and very, very special for me."

To repeat, really and very special.

As for why the Koreans have become so prominent in women’s golf, Pak said the golf courses in Korea are not as numerous and well conditioned as in America. When the players become accustomed to the tough conditions, they find things easier on the manicured lawns of the U.S.

"Maybe this is one of the reasons we play so well, because we have so much hard conditions and always (players) are used to playing in those hard conditions," said Pak, who has 23 career LPGA wins. "That’s why they come over here and it’s a perfect condition for each week. That’s why I think they learn quicker and they’re improving a lot.

Pak agreed that the work ethic the Korean culture has might play a part. "It’s such a small country, but we’re always working so hard for it," she added.

Yet another Park, who happens to be good friends with In-Bee Park, also threatened the leaders. Angela Park, who was born in Brazil, was a factor throughout the championship, opening the week with consecutive 69s. Unfortunately, Angela Park slipped a bit while finishing her third round on Sunday morning, a hiccup that cost her.

Completing seven third-round holes in the morning, Angela Park made two bogeys coming in, at Nos. 15 and 18. The boxes saddled her with a third-round 74, dropping her out of the picture for the fourth round final pairing.

Beginning the fourth round two under for the championship, Angela Park fought to stay championship solvent, matching two bogeys on the front with two birdies. She then birdied Nos. 12 and 15 on the backside, getting to within a stroke of the lead. At that point, she took a gander at the leaderboard.

"Toward the end, I knew I was close to the leaders," Angela Park said. "After I birdied 15, I did take a little sneak peak at the leaderboard and saw where I was."

Moments later, she made bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17, slamming the brakes on her championship chase. However, Angela Park insisted, pressure was not the culprit. "I just had a couple of mental mistakes of my own," she said.

Like her young namesake, In-Bee, Angela Park said her performance at Pine Needles this week should carry residual value down the road.

"This is a great experience," said Angela Park, whose previous best finish on the LPGA Tour was a tie for third at the Fields Open in Hawaii. "I hope to take what I did this week and it will make me a better player."

Phillip Howley is a freelance writer whose work has previously appeared on www.uswomensopen.com.