(21 November 2011 – Orlando, Florida)
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Fourth-year LPGA Tour member Hee Young Park of South Korea broke away from a packed leaderboard to win the LPGA’s final tournament of the year at the CME Group Titleholders. Park finished at 9-under par 279, two shots better than America’s Paula Creamer and Germany’s Sandra Gal. In the process, Park became a Rolex First-Time Winner and collected the winner’s cheque for US$500,000, the biggest winner’s cheque in women’s golf.
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rnPark, Rolex World No. 58, carded a final-round score of 2-under par 70 after heading into the final round tied atop the leaderboard with Gal at the Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Florida. While it was an up and down day for the majority of the field, Park managed to keep her composure. Park followed up a bogey on the fourth hole with birdies on three of her next four holes and she finished up her round with 10 straight pars to secure the title.
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rn“It was difficult on the greens with tough pin positions today,” said Park, 24. “I felt the pressure. I tried hard. I always felt I could win, so today I know that dreams come true.”
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Although this is Park’s first victory on the LPGA Tour, she has captured six career wins on the KLPGA Tour. Park’s career-best finish on the LPGA Tour prior to this week was second place, which she did twice during the 2009 season (the Honda LPGA Thailand and the Mizuno Classic). A four-year member of the LPGA Tour, Park made 18 of 20 cuts coming into the season-ending event on Tour this year.
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rnOnce voted by KLPGA members as having the best swing on Tour, Park was the 2005 Rookie of the Year on the Korean LPGA Tour and came to the U.S. LPGA with high expectations.
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rnIt was a win of sorts for the ALPG with long-time member Kylie Pratt on the bag for Park, a partnership that has continued for most of Park’s time on the LPGA. Karrie Webb was the only ALPG Member to gain a start in the season-ending event, finishing at 8-over par in a tie for 36th.