Korean Golf Queen Has Player of the Year Title Within Her Grasp at Tour Championship

By Matt Flemming
Staff Reporter

Shin Ji-yai will enter play at the LPGA Tour Championship on Monday with the Player of the Year title within her grasp at the Houstonian Golf and Country Club near Houston, Texas.

The South Korean rookie still has two holes to play in the second round and sits in second place at 7-under, a stroke behind leader Kristy McPherson, who has completed her round, and one up on Lorena Ochoa, who has one hole left.

Heavy rains over the weekend caused organizers to cut the tournament from 72 to 54 holes, with the second round still incomplete through Sunday.

If Shin finishes higher that Ochoa at the season-ending event, she'll become the first golfer to win both the player and rookie prizes since Nancy Lopez in 1978.

The second round was originally scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday morning but rain delayed the start of the round until 1 p.m. and play was suspended at 5 p.m. that afternoon due to darkness.

More heavy rain meant that play did not resume again until Sunday afternoon and when play was suspended due to darkness just after 5 p.m., 35 players still had not completed 36 holes.

The final round will begin after the second round is completed Monday morning and is expected to wrap up by the late afternoon.

Ochoa was the first round leader after shooting a 6-under 66 Thursday but lost her lead, shooting even par through 17 holes. Shin surged ahead with a round of 5-under through 16 holes.

The Mexican is looking for her fourth straight player of the year award but is eight points behind Shin.

Shin took advantage of the long delay to get some much needed rest. The South Korean said she has played in tournaments for six straight weeks and fatigue was beginning to set in.

``I was tired, so (I had) a really long sleep … so my feeling is good,'' she said.

She explained that the delay has allowed her to get the rest she needs to be at her best for the rest of the tournament.

``I think this helps to me, my physical condition (is) really good now.
``Before the first round, I felt bad, not really good. But today was getting really good.''

The weather also meant that Shin took full two days off from golfing, and she indicated she wasn't sure when the last time was that she took such a break from the sport.

Shin called Monday the most important day of her life and knows that the player of the year title is there for the taking.

``I played very good today, and I still have a good shot and putting skill, so I still feel really close.''

She has shown over the last two years that she has the ability to close strongly and win when victory is within her grasp. She attributed this to her ability to handle herself in high-pressure situations and added that she's confident she'll be able to do the same Monday.

Winning the Vare Trophy, given to the player with the lowest scoring average, might be a little more difficult for Shin. She will need to beat Ochoa by a full four strokes to close the gap.

Among the other players in contention at the Houstonian, Anna Nordqvist and Heather Bowie Young are both tied with Ochoa at 6-under. Mikaela Parmlid had the lowest round of 6-under when play was suspended to move into a tie for sixth at 5-under.

Koreans Pak Se-ri, Choi Chella and Choi Na-yeon are tied for ninth at 4-under and Kim Song-hee is a shot behind them in a tie for 16th.

mattflemming@koreatimes.co.kr