The morning after moving on top of the women’s pro golf ranking, Sung Hyun Park vowed to do everything to keep her lofty spot, at least for the rest of the season unlike in 2017 when she briefly took the No. 1 spot after gaining the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
“I can’t believe to be the world No. 1,” said Park during the press conference of The Country Club Ladies Invitational at Solaire’s Waterside Tuesday night. “I just have to do my best to keep my ranking unlike in 2017.But it’s a long way to go. I have to get better and better.”
She also relished her tie-up with Solaire Resort & Casino and cherished the warm welcome she received from her fellow golfers and fans alike.
“It’s great to be here and I’m happy to be with Solaire. After signing up with them, I won a tournament and became the world no. 1,” said Park. “I’ve been treated very well and having a lot of fun since I arrived and I promise to play my best and looking forward to winning more tournaments and keeping my top ranking till the end of the season.”
“When I arrived at the TCC for the clinic, almost all the players were curious and wanted to talk to me. They’re very enthusiastic and I hope they can learn from me,” she added.
She flaunted her world class skills in a late tee off with fellow LPGA Tour campaigner Dottie Ardina and Asian Games gold medalist amateur Yuka Saso, birdying three of the first three holes at the frontside of the tough TCC to seize early control heading to the backside.
Ardina had a even par card while Saso made an opening hole bogey and parred the next eight.
Taiwanese Hsiao-Ling Wu hit four birdies against three bogeys to take the clubhouse lead at 71, one ahead of amateur Sunshine Baraquiel and another Korean pro Jin-Hee Park at the completion of half of the 125-player starting field that featured some of the leading players of the LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) and the local top guns.
The top 60 plus ties after 36 holes will advance to the last 18 holes of the tournament serving as the third leg of the TLPGA and fifth stop of the 2018-19 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.