＜Photo：Matt Roberts/Getty Images＞
50th LPGA Championship Konica Minolta cupThe second round of the 50th Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup was held on 8th September at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. It is Number–one in Asia who will win this tournament. Total purse is ￥200million,and winner’s prize ￥36million. Ah-Reum Hwang,Hiroko Azuma and Asuka Kashiwabara finished at total 4 under par to lead the second round. 4 Players including Rituko Ryu and Fumika Kawagishi were a stroke back at total 3 under par.The game is so close,and the third round starts on 8th.
She called back the second round, where she shot a 68 and on No 18 showed much polished putting. Her 95 yards third shot straight to the pin came back by 13 yards due to too much back spin. But she sank it to birdie. “I was lucky,” she explained.
“I got unbelievable birdie on the very last hole. I feel good. Now I want to play hard tomorrow. As for bogey and double bogey, things wasn’t going well for me. I had to hit out of a divot and I was unlucky. But I didn’t get nervous. I thought golf is golf, and a lot of birdies came,” she said.
Since 2,008 she had been the player with money ranking exemption for 8 consecutive years. But in 2,016 she couldn’t get a good result and lost it. She took a look at herself again. “ I took four-stroke penalty on the first day while final Qualifying Tournamet. I got caught up in the mood with tension and I didn’t know what to do. On the second day after I stopped trying too hard, I came to play well,” she said.
Since off-season this year She has been working Bum-Soo Cho, who is famous as Bo-Mee Lee’s coach. “I started with him as My mother and Bo-Mee’s mother were good friends. I went to a camp with him. After correcting my swing, my short game in particular got well to show some results. I worked my wrist too much, not my body. Now punch shot,fade ball…,I’m able to hit each one precisely.”“I’m happy to play golf. Besides, Bo-Mee is really worried about me. So I want to show results for her as well as me.” she revealed a kind heart.
I have noticed she wearing the same clothes whenever in the tournament leader interview.” “I like this type of pattern. This is my lucky pattern. Megumi(Shimokawa;2th at the last week) was also wearing the same one as this. I will pass it to the laundry service in my hotel and on Sunday once again, I will put on.” It is her fighting uniform.
