Park Ji-eun Leads by Three In Samsung World Championship

“ Here is the ball with the Nike mark on it.”

Delightful news was delivered to Park Ji-eun from gallery members who were searching the bushes. One of them found Park`s missing ball.

If the situation had turned into a "lost ball" situation with the ball missing, Park would have had to shoot her tee shot again and make her third shot, which would be an "out of bounce" shot.

But with the recovery of the ball, Park declared an "untouchable” (which occurs when the ball is situated in a location where it is unplayable, a player receives a shot penalty, play is restarted within two club lengths from the pin)" and secured the 18th hole with a bogey putt.

Park salvaged a bogey, which cost her a two-stroke loss. It was fortunate for Park to secure it since a gap of three shots with the leader and a gap of two strokes makes a big difference during the final day. But just as they were at the 18th hole, where her shot overstretched the fairway, Parks` drivers were shaky all day.

In the third round of the LPGA tour Samsung World Championship (total prize money: $825,000) held at the Bighorn GC Canyons course (par 72) in the Palm Desert of California, USA on the 17th, Park was a woman on the upswing for two consecutive days, shooting a 10-under-par in the first round and a five-under-par in the second round, and sniped off a 16-under-par, 200 record while making four birdies and three bogies to round up that score. Park maintained her position as the current leader for four days, but isn’t assured of the win since the world’s best player, Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), and "Americas Pride," Cristie Kerr (USA), are in hot pursuit just three strokes behind.

"Idol Star" Michelle Wie (Korean Name: Wie Sung-Mi, aged 15), recorded the day’s best score among the tournament’s 20 participants with a five-under-par 67 (six birdies, one bogey) and improved to a three under par 213 and settled in 15th place. Wie showed confidence by commenting, " I`ll enter top 10 by the final round."

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com