Grace Park, one of the favorites in the Salisbury Futures golf tournament today and
tomorrow, may be the most recognizable face at the Country Club of Salisbury, but she says
she’s just one of many talented players on the Futures Tour. ‘‘I know that members here and
people have recognized me more than some of the other pros, but I think I’m just one
of the players trying to win, trying to play a little golf,’’ said the
20-year-old former Arizona State University golfer.
Park is going after her second
straight Futures victory in her third pro event. She won the Greater Lima Futures Open
last weekend at Lost Creek Country Club in Lima, Ohio, where she chipped in for an eagle 3
on the final hole of a 54-hole tourney and finished with a 210 score. She won $6,600. A
week earlier, she won $188 in Pewaukee, Wisc., where she tied for 49th.
‘‘Anybody here at this
level has a chance of winning,’’ said Park. ‘‘It’s just a matter
of who has the best week and make a lot of putts and stay alive out there.’’
Before turning pro earlier this
month, the Korean native who now lives in Phoenix, Ariz., became the first player since
1938 to sweep the three major United States women’s amateur titles – the U.S.
Amateur, the Women’s Western Amateur and the Trans-National Championship.
Park also won the NCAA individual
championship in May, capping off a great college career.
Park and another outstanding
amateur, Duke University’s Jenny Chuasiriporn, are each playing in their third pro
tournament. They got a late start on the Futures Tour, but have six tournaments left in
which to finish in either the top three or the top 10.
The top three money winners on the
Futures Tour will automatically earn their LPGA Tour cards for 2000. Numbers 4-10 will
automatically advance to the finals of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
‘‘If I can make some
putts and have some strong finishes, it (top three) might be possible,’’ said
Park, ‘‘but, for now, I’m going for top 10, just trying to go to the final
stage. I’ll be satisfied with that. I’ll be happier if I can make top
three.’’
Park is playing this week with
what she says is a minor problem. She developed pain in her chest during Tuesday’s
practice round.
‘‘I played nine holes,
and I didn’t want to push myself because it was bothering me. ... I was told by the
doctor here that it could be like some kind of virus by my second rib, but it’s
nothing serious. It’ll go away, but it’s just painful for the time being.
I’ll deal with it,’’ she said.
She also said, despite last
weekend’s victory, her game needs work.
‘‘To tell the truth, I
don’t feel that I’m at the top of my game. There’s things I have to still
work on and improve, and I’m trying to do that. Hopefully, it’ll
work,’’ she said. ‘‘My swing’s been a little bit off, and my
putting hasn’t been right there.’’
Park’s first round as a pro
was a 77 in the Aurora Health Care Futures Classic two weeks ago, but she pointed out that
the high score wasn’t because of nervousness.
‘‘It was one of those
days where I started off well, then couldn’t make any putts and started getting a
little frustrated and making little mistakes that cost me strokes,’’ she
explained. ‘‘I felt really comfortable, but it was just one of those
days.’’
Since then, she’s had scores
of 69, 69, 73 and 68.
How about playing on
Salisbury’s Donald Ross-designed course?
‘‘It could be tough.
This course: I really like it. It’s wide open. It just fits my game perfect, it seems
like. Let’s just hope I can make some putts and make some birdies,’’ she
said.
The 36-hole tournament got under
way at 8 a.m. today. The second and final round of the $40,000 event is scheduled for
approximately 9 a.m. Friday, but the leaders will be teeing off in the afternoon. |
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