Posted on: Friday, February 25, 2005
Birdie Kim makes it simple, easy
| • | Rosales tops SBS Open |
| • | Ferd Lewis: A passion for fashion and golf |
By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser
KAHUKU — O'ahu's North Shore felt like old home week in Seoul, which couldn't have made title sponsor Seoul Broadcasting System any happier.
Twenty-three golfers born in South Korea are playing in the $1 million SBS Open, the LPGA Tour's first full-field event of the season, at the Turtle Bay Resort.
If that isn't enough, six of them are named Kim — the most common family name in the country.
Jennifer Rosales leads the 132-player field with a 6-under-par 66 after yesterday's opening round. She has a two-stroke lead over four players, including Sung Ah Yim, the best score of the 23 South Korean natives.
But who's leading the tournament's "Kim Flight" you might ask.
First-round honors went to Christina Kim, a native Californian who shot a 2-under 70. The same score posted by Michelle Wie, by the way.
Two shots back was a Kim with probably the best name you can come up with in golf other than Ace — Birdie.
Anyway, that's what 23-year-old Birdie Kim thinks, and the reason why she chose it instead of going by her given name, Ju-Yun, by which she was known until this year.
Why the name change?.
"There are a lot of Korean names in the LPGA. They all sound similar to mine, so I wanted something different, something simple and easy," said Kim, who won 19 amateur tournaments in Korea before turning professional.
"Birdie is good in golf and it's good for me. You get a good feeling when you make a birdie. Everything is nice," she added. "Everybody likes that name."
Even her parents, according to Kim, who had to go back to qualifying school to regain her LPGA card after a disappointing rookie year in 2004.
Still, it's a nickname. She hasn't gone that far to legalize it, according to Kim.
Like many of the youngsters growing up in South Korea, Kim said that Se Ri Pak is her role model.
"She's everybody's hero in Korea."
Pak isn't here, but the other most noted South Korean golfer on the women's tour, Grace Park, was among six from her native country putting up red numbers despite windy conditions.
After struggling earlier with a 37 going out, Park played the back nine in 3-under 33 for a 70.
"I had a bad tee shot off the first tee and made bogey and another bad shot at the second hole but saved par," said Park, who played junior golf in Hawai'i.
"After that I gained confidence and started hitting it better," said Park, who made back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 and again at 14 and 15.
A six-time winner, Park enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2004, finishing second to Annika Sorenstam, another SBS Open no-show, on the money list with $1.5 million.
"I'm hoping this year will be even more of a breakthrough year," said Park, who likes the progress she's making in her career. She finished third on the money list in 2003 and sixth in 2002.
Park isn't surprised by the number of South Koreans on the LPGA Tour.
In 1998, there was only Se Ri Pak. Now there are 28 playing on the tour.
"Golf is very popular in Korea, and Koreans are very competitive," Park said.
She doesn't plan on becoming an American citizen.
"Korea is my home. But I'm glad my green card is approved."
Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.
