By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
Shin Ji-yai left Korea for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour this season but a new star has emerged to replace her.
Seo Hee-kyung has dominated the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) in recent weeks and continued her dominance on Sunday, scoring a come-from-behind victory at the Taeyoung Cup.
The 22-year-old ended the tournament at nine-under to grab her first major title, edging Kim Bo-kyung by one stroke. Seo trailed Lee Bo-mee by six shots before the final round, but rallied with six birdies as Lee dropped to third spot.
Seo also won the Lotte Mart Open three weeks ago. The two wins put her atop the prize table with 223 million won ($175,000), followed by Kim, who has earned 80 million won ($62,800).
Seo has drawn comparisons to Shin Ji-yai after the come-from-behind win in the final round. Shin Ji-yai is currently second on the LPGA money list with $470,000 behind Mexican Lorena Ochoa.
Seo has come from behind to earn five or her eight trophies in the KLPGA.
``I can focus in the final round more than the first or second round,'' Seo told The Korea Times, Monday.
``I think the eagerness to win makes me focus more efficiently,'' Seo explained.
``Her dad liked golf. She liked whatever her dad liked. So we just let her play,'' Seo's mother, Lee Soong-ah said of her daughter. ``At that time, Hee-kyung was strong physically. We expected her to be a top player.
``However, the results were less than expected and she had a hard time.''
Seo made an unimpressive tour debut in August 2005, and in her second season she managed to finish third twice in 14 tournaments. In 2007, she was still winless with two third-place finishes.
But Seo, who stands 1.72-meters tall, began blossoming into a top-tier golfer in 2008 and claimed six titles, including the ADT Caps Championship, Binhai Open, and Hi-One Cup.
``After I took the first title at the Hi-One Cup last year, my concerns were gone. I was confident, and I could concentrate more easily,'' Seo said.
High-profile players in Korea usually move on to the LPGA, but according to her mother, Seo has set her sights on a different destination: the Japanese Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA).
Seo named LPGA veteran Julie Inkster as a player she particularly admires, according to the KLPGA official Web site.
``Korean players tend to retire from golf earlier, but Inkster has had a long career. She seems to be a good wife and mother, and she has also been successful in golf,'' Seo said of the 48-year old American, who has won 31 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including seven major championships.
``I met her in the United States last year. She looked relaxed and she showed good manners,'' Seo contiunued.
Seo took part in two LPGA Tour events this year, including the SBS Open in February and the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March. She also will play in the U.S. Women's Open and the Evian Masters in July.
``I will do my best on the KLPGA Tour and on the international tours that I am invited to,'' the new Korean golf star said with confidence.