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Advertiser Staff
Last week, Kona Country Club was breathless and Lorie Kane breathtaking. This week, the wind is back.
The 15th annual Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open begins this morning in the big breeze of Kapolei Golf Course. The wind was so wicked yesterday even Karrie Webb begged for mercy.
"It’s always fun to play in Hawai‘i, but obviously not with the wind like we’re having now," said Webb,who is second on the money list to Kane after last week. "The wind is pretty bad and I think it’s picking up."
The field for the $750,000 tournament includes 40 of the Top 50 money winners from last year, and a dozen players from the Japan LPGA tour. Aki Nakano was No. 2 on the 2000 JLPGA money list and won the tour championship.
Betsy King is defending champion. Five other previous champions are here: Wendy Ward (1998), Annika Sorenstam (1997), Patty Sheehan (1991), Sherri Turner (1989) and Cindy Flom, who won the inaugural event at Turtle Bay in 1987.
Sorenstam finished second to Kane at last week’s Takefuji Classic and Turner tied for ninth. Webb, LPGA Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000, was sixth. She was second here her rookie season (1996).
"She is an awfully good player," Meg Mallon said then, after beating Webb with birdies on the final two holes. "I’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities of beating her because that’s not going to happen very often. There isn’t a fault in her game, at all."
Mallon was prophetic. Webb, 26, has since qualified for the Hall of Fame, as has Sorenstam, 30. Both must wait to be inducted until they meet the 10-year membership requirement.
The Golf Channel will broadcast all three rounds live, beginning at noon HST each day.
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