Suzann Pettersen (click to enlarge)
I thought I’d try something different this time. Instead of splitting my LPGA and JLPGA posts, I just figured I’d start killing two birds with one post. If it works out, I will try adding KLPGA and LET coverage next year. Let’s start with Suzann Pettersen avoiding a winless year by holding on…barely…but holding on nonetheless to win the 2012 KEB-Hana Bank Championship. Yesterday, I said it was Suzann’s tournament to win or lose after finishing the middle round with a 5 shot lead. Early on, it looked like she would lose it as she stumbled out of the gate as she struggled on the par 3s, double bogeying the par 3 3rd and 12th and bogeying the par 3 8th. She was able to sandwich in 3 birdies, but her 2-over 74 opened the door for Catriona Matthew’s 5-under to tie things up at 11-under overall in regulation. Had Suzann let this one slip through her hands, I wonder how that would affect her going forward. But she was able to convert a birdie on the third playoff hole on the par 5 18th to edge Matthew for the title. Pettersen takes home $270,000 for her 9 career LPGA victory. On an unrelated note, gotta cheer Suzann, who recently spent time in Mozambique as part of the Right To Play initiative.
So-Hee Kim
A little bit of mixed emotions for me seeing So-Hee Kim chase down a stumbling Sakura Yokomine to win the 2012 Masters GC Ladies on the JLPGA Tour. I’m a Seoul Sisters fan, so it’s always nice to see one win a tournament. However, Sakura is my favorite JLPGA player. While Suzann Pettersen survived a 2-over 74 to win a playoff in Korea, Yokomine’s 1-over 73 did her in, dropping her from 12-under after the 2nd round into a 3 woman playoff after the 3rd round she ultimately lost. Obviously, just an even par round would have been enough for Sakura to emerge as champion. However, all credit must go to So-Hee for a great win, her second on the JLPGA and first since winning the 2007 Sankyo Ladies Open. She could have folded after back to back bogies on 6 and 7 left her at 1-over for the round. Instead, she immediately birdied the 8th and later 15th and 16th coming in. Meanwhile, Sakura just couldn’t get anything going. After a birdie on the 2nd hole, it was a par fest, hardly showing the form that earned her 12 birdies and no bogeys the first two rounds. She really dug a hole for herself with bogeys on 13 and 14. What’s done is done. Hopefully, Sakura will bounce back with a few tournaments to go this year. She hasn’t had a bad year if she were the average JLPGA player. 12th on the money list so far is nothing to sneeze at. But for Sakura, who has finished no lower than 4th on the money list from 2005 to 2011, it’s definitely not up to her high standards. By the way, of note to LPGA fans, Paula Creamer played this event instead of Hana Bank, finishing in a tie for 6th at 8-under.
Mi-Hyun Kim and her son (click to enlarge)
The 2012 KEB-Hana Bank Championship also mark the end of the wonderful career of Mi-Hyun Kim. I have already said my piece about Peanut in a tribute post you can read here: Mi-Hyun Kim Tribute. I will only reiterate her how much the retirements of Grace Park and Peanut have moved me this year. Time doesn’t wait for anybody. In the end for an athlete, the day comes when they either can’t do what they once could or the drive to do it is no longer there. The only regret I have for Peanut and Grace is that both of them, especially Grace, were robbed of potentially great years due to injuries. I wish both of them nothing but the best always.
JLPGA PHOTOS CANNOT BE ENLARGED
2012 MASTERS GC LADIES
SO-HEE KIM
SO-HEE KIM AND SAKURA YOKOMINE
ASAKO FUJIMOTO
CHIE ARIMURA
CHIE ARIMURA and PAULA CREAMER
ERINA HARA
KUMIKO KANEDA
MISUZU NARITA
PAULA CREAMER
RIKAKO MORITA
SAKURA YOKOMINE
SHIHO OYAMA
YUKARI BABA
YUKI ICHINOSE
YUMIKO YOSHIDA
YUMIKO YOSHIDA and AIRI SAITOH
LPGA PICS CAN BE ENLARGED BY CLICKING
2012 KEB-HANA BANK CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND
SUZANN PETTERSEN
MI-HYUN KIM (Farewell, Peanut! Best Wishes Always!)
CATRIONA MATTHEW
SE RI PAK
MICHELLE WIE
SO YEON RYU
YANI TSENG
LEXI THOMPSON
CHELLA CHOI
SANDRA GAL
INBEE PARK
| Pos | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | Playoff | Today | Thru | Total | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x-Suzann Pettersen | 63 | 68 | 74 | 14 | +2 | F | -11 | 205 |
| 2 | Catriona Matthew | 68 | 70 | 67 | 15 | -5 | F | -11 | 205 |
| 3 | Yani Tseng | 67 | 70 | 69 | – | -3 | F | -10 | 206 |
| 4 | Se Ri Pak | 70 | 67 | 70 | – | -2 | F | -9 | 207 |
| T5 | Sandra Gal | 69 | 68 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -8 | 208 |
| T5 | Lexi Thompson | 68 | 70 | 70 | – | -2 | F | -8 | 208 |
| T7 | Mina Harigae | 68 | 72 | 69 | – | -3 | F | -7 | 209 |
| T7 | Ha-Neul Kim | 66 | 72 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -7 | 209 |
| T7 | Brittany Lincicome | 72 | 70 | 67 | – | -5 | F | -7 | 209 |
| T7 | Azahara Munoz | 66 | 72 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -7 | 209 |
| T7 | Hee Young Park | 69 | 73 | 67 | – | -5 | F | -7 | 209 |
| T7 | So Yeon Ryu | 66 | 70 | 73 | – | +1 | F | -7 | 209 |
| T13 | Cristie Kerr | 70 | 72 | 68 | – | -4 | F | -6 | 210 |
| T13 | Karin Sjodin | 64 | 75 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -6 | 210 |
| T15 | Haeji Kang | 70 | 70 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -5 | 211 |
| T15 | Inbee Park | 70 | 70 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -5 | 211 |
| T15 | Jiyai Shin | 71 | 71 | 69 | – | -3 | F | -5 | 211 |
| T18 | Danielle Kang | 71 | 70 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -4 | 212 |
| T18 | Beatriz Recari | 69 | 71 | 72 | – | E | F | -4 | 212 |
| T20 | Jodi Ewart | 74 | 69 | 70 | – | -2 | F | -3 | 213 |
| T20 | Ai Miyazato | 66 | 75 | 72 | – | E | F | -3 | 213 |
| T22 | Julieta Granada | 69 | 74 | 71 | – | -1 | F | -2 | 214 |
| T22 | Brittany Lang | 73 | 69 | 72 | – | E | F | -2 | 214 |
| T22 | Jung-Min Lee | 69 | 71 | 74 | – | +2 | F | -2 | 214 |
| T25 | Yoon-Kyung Heo | 69 | 74 | 72 | – | E | F | -1 | 215 |
| T25 | Hyo-Joo Kim | 68 | 73 | 74 | – | +2 | F | -1 | 215 |
| T25 | Hyun Hee Moon | 66 | 75 | 74 | – | +2 | F | -1 | 215 |
| T25 | Gerina Piller | 69 | 72 | 74 | – | +2 | F | -1 | 215 |
| T25 | Amy Yang | 70 | 72 | 73 | – | +1 | F | -1 | 215 |
| T30 | Karine Icher | 68 | 73 | 75 | – | +3 | F | E | 216 |
| T30 | I.K. Kim | 73 | 73 | 70 | – | -2 | F | E | 216 |
| T30 | Michelle Wie | 73 | 73 | 70 | – | -2 | F | E | 216 |
| T33 | Hee-Won Han | 73 | 73 | 71 | – | -1 | F | +1 | 217 |
| T33 | Katherine Hull | 76 | 71 | 70 | – | -2 | F | +1 | 217 |
| T33 | Hee-Won Jung | 69 | 75 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +1 | 217 |
| T33 | Ilhee Lee | 72 | 73 | 72 | – | E | F | +1 | 217 |
| T33 | Stacy Lewis | 72 | 74 | 71 | – | -1 | F | +1 | 217 |
| T33 | Angela Stanford | 68 | 77 | 72 | – | E | F | +1 | 217 |
| T39 | Na Yeon Choi | 70 | 73 | 75 | – | +3 | F | +2 | 218 |
| T39 | Shanshan Feng | 72 | 74 | 72 | – | E | F | +2 | 218 |
| T39 | Eun-Hee Ji | 71 | 74 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +2 | 218 |
| T39 | Jennifer Johnson | 70 | 75 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +2 | 218 |
| T39 | Mirim Lee | 75 | 71 | 72 | – | E | F | +2 | 218 |
| T39 | Anna Nordqvist | 75 | 72 | 71 | – | -1 | F | +2 | 218 |
| T45 | Nicole Castrale | 70 | 75 | 74 | – | +2 | F | +3 | 219 |
| T45 | Chella Choi | 76 | 70 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +3 | 219 |
| T45 | Ran Hong | 75 | 73 | 71 | – | -1 | F | +3 | 219 |
| T45 | Ji-Hyun Kim | 70 | 75 | 74 | – | +2 | F | +3 | 219 |
| T45 | Hee Kyung Seo | 69 | 74 | 76 | – | +4 | F | +3 | 219 |
| T45 | Je-Yoon Yang | 71 | 75 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +3 | 219 |
| T51 | Vicky Hurst | 72 | 76 | 72 | – | E | F | +4 | 220 |
| T51 | Hye Youn Kim | 73 | 76 | 71 | – | -1 | F | +4 | 220 |
| T53 | Katie Futcher | 73 | 76 | 72 | – | E | F | +5 | 221 |
| T53 | Meena Lee | 76 | 71 | 74 | – | +2 | F | +5 | 221 |
| T53 | Hyun-Hwa Sim | 74 | 75 | 72 | – | E | F | +5 | 221 |
| T53 | Soo-Jin Yang | 76 | 72 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +5 | 221 |
| T53 | Lindsey Wright | 73 | 73 | 75 | – | +3 | F | +5 | 221 |
| T58 | Rye-Jung Lee | 74 | 73 | 75 | – | +3 | F | +6 | 222 |
| T58 | Sun Young Yoo | 74 | 75 | 73 | – | +1 | F | +6 | 222 |
| T60 | Cheyenne Woods | 73 | 76 | 75 | – | +3 | F | +8 | 224 |
| T60 | Mi Hyun Kim | 76 | 70 | 78 | – | +6 | F | +8 | 224 |
| T60 | Jessica Korda | 80 | 68 | 76 | – | +4 | F | +8 | 224 |
| T60 | Pornanong Phatlum | 71 | 75 | 78 | – | +6 | F | +8 | 224 |
| T60 | Giulia Sergas | 77 | 72 | 75 | – | +3 | F | +8 | 224 |
| T60 | Jenny Shin | 75 | 75 | 74 | – | +2 | F | +8 | 224 |
| T66 | Char Young Kim | 75 | 75 | 75 | – | +3 | F | +9 | 225 |
| T66 | Cindy LaCrosse | 72 | 77 | 76 | – | +4 | F | +9 | 225 |
| 68 | Bo Yeon Lee | 77 | 78 | 74 | – | +2 | F | +13 | 229 |
| 69 | Morgan Pressel | 77 | WD | WD | – | – | – | – | 77 |
| x- won playoff | |||||||||
Fairways and Forehands 