Born : Taejon, Korea on September 28, 1977 Current Residence : Orlando, Florida Age : 24 yrs Height : 5 feet, 7 inches Weight : 147 pounds Amateur debut : April 1996 (finished 1st) LPGA debut : January 1998 (finished 1st in the LPGA qualifying school) Best Score : 61
Se Ri was a valuable athlete of the school's track team. Her basic strength was built this way, which became a tremendous help to her in many games later on. She would wake up in the morning and run up and down a fifteen-story building five times. Then, she had yoga to maintain her flexibility. She also jogged a lot, and of course, practiced countless drive shots and putting. Se Ri's father was rather harsh on her. He would make her practice shots outside when it was extremely cold. Even adults would hate to go outside on a freezing cold day, but her father thought Se Ri needed to concentrate on her training, and this would be a good chance to develop her endurance. Se Ri would practice thousands and thousands of shots, then get soaked by her own sweats. During this vigorous training, Se Ri was determined that someday she would be the world's best. When she joined LPGA later on, memories of the intensive training from her father became the driving force for her at the games. "Her boldness and her ability to concentrate lead her to overcome the fear of a major competition and play confidently," comments one agent from her sponsor. In April of 1998,
Se Ri captured her first victory at the 1999 McDonald's Championship.
People were wondering. "Who is this Asian girl?"
No one expected that she would take the trophy home, but guess
what. She did. People began to recognize her. There
would be a group of Koreans cheering for her at tournaments. Some
people would go up to her and ask for autographs. She was
slowly becoming a star. Then, she absolutely shook up the
golf world, when she won the 1999 US Women's Open Championship.
After finishing up 72 holes, Se Ri was tied with an amateur
from Duke University named Jenny Chuasiriporn. The next day,
they had to go into the playoff, but extra 18 holes were still not
enough to decide the winner. First time in the history of
women's golf, Se Ri and Jenny went into Sudden Death. Now
whoever wins a hole first, they get to keep the trophy. Se
Ri won this tournament. The next day, she was a super star.
David Leadbetter, who coached many famous golfers such as
Tiger Woods, was not that surprised. "I have noticed
something special about Se Ri when I met her two years ago. A
player like Se Ri only comes along once in a lifetime." After
two winning two major games, she won two more tournaments in 1998.
Se Ri was the rookie of the year, and received the Order of
Merit by the Korean government, the highest honor given to an athlete. Se Ri's tale has just begun.... 1991 Won the Korea Herald Cup Student division. 1992 Won the Presidential Cup Middle and High School league. Won the 10th Korea Women's Open. Took part in the 4th Lyon's Court Open. 1993 Won the Presidential Cup Middle and High School league. Won the 2nd Tomboy Women's Open 1994 Won the 12th Korea Junior Competition. Won the 5th Sports Chosun Cup High School Women's division. Placed third in the World Amateur Championship in France. Won the 6th Lyon's Court Open Received rookie of the year Athlete's Award. Elected as the best Korean female player by the Korean Golf Association. Elected as the best female player by the Korean Sports Reporters Association. 1995 Won the second Song-Arm Amateur Championship Cup. Won the Presidestial Cup Middle and High School league. Won the 6th Sports Chosun Cup High School women's division. Won the 4th Tomboy Women's Open. Won the 7th Midopa Women's Open. Won the 6th Seoul Women's Open. Won the 1st Christian Dior Open. 1996 Third place in Samsung Women's World Championship Golf. Won the 4th Dongilrenown Classic. Won the 4th Fila Women's Open. Won the 4th SBS Professional Championship. Won the 7th Korea Women's Open. KLPGA ranking 1st with average of 70.79. 1997 26th place in Michelob Light classic .....281 (72-66-73-71). 6th in Australia Alpine Masters .....147 (73-74). 21th place in US Women's Open .....286 (68-73-67-67). 43rd place in Star Bank Classic .....286 (68-69-73). Ranked 1st in the US LPGA pro-test .....276 (69-73-67-67). First place in US LPGA pro- test .....278 (68-76-67-67). Won the 3rd Rose Women's Open .....281 (72-66-Open .....281) (72-66-73-71). 1998 13th place in LPGA Healthsouth .....217(72-73-72). 45th place in LPGA LA Women's Championship .....149(76-73). Disqualified at preliminaries at LPGA Cup Noodles Hawailian Ladies Open .....149(75-74). 48th place in LPGA Welch's/Circle K Championship .....283(72-68-69-74). 36th place in Standard Register PING .....289(74-73-73-69) 11th place in LPGA Long Drugs Challenge .....287(74-75-72-66). 22th place in LPGA Chick-Fil-A Chairt Championship .....213(70-72-71). 43th place in LPGA Mercury Titleholders Championship .....287(74-69-72-72). 32th place in LPGA Sara Lee Classic .....211(68-72-71). *Won the LPGA McDonald's Championship .....273(65-68-72-68). 37th place in Rochester International .....293(74-72-74-73). 26th place in Michelob Light Classic .....219(72 72-74-73). 38th place in Oldsmobile Classic .....288(72-73-74-69). 36th place in Shoprite LPGA Classic .....211(69-72-70). *Won the U.S. Women's Open Championship .....290(69-70-75-76). Won the Jamie Farr Kroger LPGA Classic .....261(71-61-63-66). 44th place in JAL Apple LPGA Tournament .....288(72-69-71-76). Won Giant Eagle LPGA Classic .....201(65-69-67). *41st place in du Maurier Classic .....283(69-70-71-73). 34th place in Women's British Open Championship .....308(78-74-79-77). 10th place in Rail Classic .....204(70-68-66). 10th place in Safeway LPGA Golf Championship .....212(72-69-71). 21st place in Safeco Classic .....284(67-68-74-75). 4th place in Betsy King Classic .....279(68-71-69-71). 10th place in Tournament of Champions .....288(68-69-79-72). 13th place in World Championships .....290(72-75-73-72). |
Se Ri Pak is a Korean Woman Golfer who
has brought the sensation into the world's women golf.
Utter
silence. Gallery's attention. Everyone was absolutely
quiet and their focus was on the hole. It was her turn. This
could be the biggest putt of her life. She slowly moved the
putter and hit that ball. The ball was alive and the hole
completely sucked it up. It was in. She closed her eyes.
"It's over now."