By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
HOBART-If you didn’t have a chance to come out to the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic last week, you missed being a part of the record setting 257 score Sei Young Kim put up.
She birdied 43 percent of the holes played, and only got in trouble when she double-bogied the 17th hole on Friday.
She was dominant in her nine-stroke victory hitting 67 of 72 greens for the week and beat the 15th place finishers by 15 strokes.
As the LPGA players continue to get better, the record will most likely be eclipsed one day.
However, it will take a herculean effort on the behalf of one player for an entire four rounds to break.
With the win, Kim moves up to 20th place in the world rankings but is only the eighth best Korean!
South Korea is becoming the dominant force in not only professional but developmental golf as well.
Players on tour absolutely marveled at Kim’s performance for the week.
“In a word, phenomenal,” said Katherine Kirk, last year’s Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic winner. “We knew that you could go low around this golf course, but she’s taken it to a whole nother level. It’s pretty exciting to watch really. She just kept the foot down so compliments to her.”
American Emma Talley finished the week at 20 under par with rounds of 65,68,68, and 67.
It was the best finish of her career and third top 10 of the season.
In addition, she moved into second in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Standings.
She graciously signed a bunch of autographs and acknowledged fans with her southern accent.
“Definitely gained a lot of the confidence this week,” said Talley. “Haven’t been playing as well as I would like to the past month, so this is the kind of breakthrough I needed. Hopefully the next few weeks will be good.”
Fellow American Mariah Stackhouse might have floated under the radar all week, but she quietly shot 16 under and took home a $26,184 paycheck.
Stackhouse took a different direction in reaching the LPGA tour.
She played her college golf at Stanford, and now at 24, is really showing her true colors.
With her high finish this past week, she moves within reach of the top 100 in the world (currently 121).
If she were to win on the LPGA tour, she would become the first ever African American player to accomplish that feat.
While the entire country of England was in mourning this week over the World Cup loss to Croatia, the quartet of Bronte Law, Georgia Hall, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, and Charley Hull all finished in the top 30.
Hall got her first top 10 finish of the year after playing exceptional golf on the Ladies European Tour the past couple of years and excelling in the Solheim Cup.
A big second half of the season could be in order for her.
All four will be in action for England when they play in the UL International Crown in early October.
The format features eight teams that square off in a three-day tournament.
The week produced tremendous golf from the professionals.
Oneida Nation showcased their wonderful customs and put the finishing touches on Sunday with a sacred dance to bless the tournament.
If you haven’t played Thornberry Creek, give it a try.
It’s not as easy as it looks, and doubt that if you happen to play four rounds the rest of the year, your total will add up to 31 under par!
