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There were "six Lees, 10 Kims, six Parks and a dozen more dazzling Seoul Sisters all in one field," and it had the writer "wishing they served chilled Kim Chee at the concession stands."
In an article entitled "Korean Invasion", a daily newspaper in North Carolina called the Pilot pointed out that Korean golfers dominated this year's LGPA U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship. "Some wits in the press center" were calling it "the U.S. Korean Open -- a field where nearly one-third of the competitors hail from the Korean Peninsula," the article said.
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Angela Park tees off on nine during the final round at the 2007 Women's U.S. Open golf championship in Southern Pines, N.C. on Sunday. /AP
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Eight Korean players made it into the top 10 at the U.S. Women's Open which ended Sunday at the Pine Needles Lodge in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Korean-Brazilian Angela Park came in second with three under, Park In-bee and Pak Se Ri tied at fourth with two under, Shin Jiyai ranked sixth with even par, followed by Lee Jee-young with one over par, Kim Mi-hyun and Jang Jeong with two over par and Bae Kyeong-eun with three over par.
American Cristie Kerr earned US$560,000 for her victory but the leaderboard at this year's Open was covered with Taegeukgi, the national flag of Korea.
Angela Park shaved off one swing in the final round but didn't make up three swings in the third round. She finished at second along with Lorena Ochoa and earned $271,022. This was her second top five placing at a major LPGA event after ranking fifth in the McDonald's LPGA Championship last month.
Park In-bee, who won the U.S. Girls' Junior in 2002, put her name into the top 10 list for the first time since her debut this season.
Pak Se Ri renewed her memory of winning the Open in 1988. Pak, who was three over par in the first and second rounds, made birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. She jumped to fourth place by shaving off six swings in the third and fourth rounds.
Shin Jiyai, who ranked 15th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March, held the lead for a bit in the third round. Although she closed at sixth after losing three swings in the final round, her achievement was better than expected considering she had arrived in the U.S. just two days ahead of the tournament after winning four domestic events.
Christie Kerr and Lorena Ochoa competed for first until the middle of the final round, when Kerr birdied on the par-four 14h and Ochoa bogied on the par-four 17th. It was Kerr's 10th career win in 11 years on the tour and her first major win in 41 major events since her debut at the age of 17 in the U.S. Women's Open in 1995.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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