Kwon takes first Club Lao title

Women power prevailed last Saturday as Kwon Young Sook was crowned champion in the inaugural IT&E Club Lao Championship after she defeated Jin Feng Chun in the finals at the challenging east course of the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.

Kwon Young Sook, right, gets a congratulatory hug from Jenny Hegland following the former’s victory in the inaugural IT&E Club Lao Championship last Saturday at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort’s East course. (Jon Perez)

Kwon’s win was not easy, as the 46-year-old needed two playoff holes to beat the feisty Jin, 1-up, in the match play format.

The full-time mom was 2-up after 11 holes and went 3-up after the par-4 No. 13 to put pressure on Jin. But the 24-year-old, who defeated Kwon’s 11-year-old son Dong Young Lee in the men’s finals to earn a shot at the Club title, came charging back and squared things off when he saved par on the par-3 No. 16 with two left to play.

The game was still leveled after 18, putting to the test both players’ mental toughness, as they gauged the distance of their shots and read the greens. Kwon and Jin played safe in the first playoff hole, keeping the score tied anew. Finally, in the second playoff hole, Kwon proved to be steadier as she parred the par-5 No. 2, while Jin faltered when he finished with a double bogey.

“I know Jin is a tough opponent that’s why he managed to tie it after 18. I just kept calm, relaxed, and focused with my game,” said the obviously shy Kwon after her more than three-hour long match with Jin.

“It was really windy at first and I don’t let that affect my game plan. I just focused on my swing and read things carefully so I could have better shot placements,” added Kwon, who earlier beat Jenny Hegland in the last hole for the women’s crown.

Kwon and Hegland started their matchup at the back nine and the score was squared entering the par-4 No. 9. Kwon parred and Hegland bogeyed, giving the former the women’s club title and the chance of facing Jin in the finals.

“I was excited and a bit scared with my match against Jenny. I don’t know how would I feel if I won or lost the match. Now, I’m happy and relieved that I won it,” Kwon ended.

For Jin, this serves as a learning experience as he tries again next year.

“I forced two extra holes but I could not control everything. My stamina was already running low,” Jin said.

He said he had no problems reading the greens but when nervousness crept in, he became stiff and that affected his game.

“It wasn’t that hard but I got nervous and that somehow affected my game. My strokes were not that good when I became stiff. She went ahead at par-5 No. 3 when she approached the short green for a birdie,” added Jin, who is now looking forward to competing in the 14th Annual Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands Charity Golf Classic Tournament on June 20.

Meanwhile, Alex Tudela defeated Park Mi Na in the Random event to complete the winners list.