Seoul, Oct 26: South Korean golfer Se Ri Pak failed in her bid to become the first female in history to win a men's event, but her one-under-par 71 was good enough to break the top 10 at the SBS Super tournament today. Pak, the first woman to make the halfway cut in a men's event in 58 years, finished with a two-under-par 286, 11 strokes behind winner Chang Ik-Jae and in 10th place on the leaderboard.
"I was avaricious after making the cut in a men's event. However, I am satisfied with my achievement," said Pak after the Korean men's tour event at the lake side country club in Yongin, south of Seoul.
Pak, second behind Annika Sorenstam in the LPGA money list, said she would like to play again in a men's event. "I proved through this event that women can do it and make it," she said.
Pak, 26, was the first women to make the halfway cut in a men's event since the legendary Babe Zaharias at the 1945 Los Angeles Open.
The three-time LPGA tour winner this year opened the final round with a birdie and sank a spectacular 12-meter birdie putt at the par-four third hole. She also recorded birdies on the seventh and tenth. Four female golfers, including world number one Sorenstam, entered men's competitions this year but none has made the halfway cut.
One female golfer has managed to strike a blow against her male counterparts. In 1961, LPGA legend Louise Suggs walked off with the victory in a little remembered par-three exhibition pitting men against women. Bureau Report