Associated Press
Wednesday, July 5

SYLVANIA, Ohio -- With four wins in each of her first two years, Se Ri Pak appeared poised to become the Tiger Woods of the LPGA Tour. This year, however, Pak has yet to win.

Last week, she failed to make the cut as the defending champion of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she set a tournament record last year with a 63.

Beginning Thursday, Pak will try to recapture her winning form and become the first three-time winner of the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic.

A year ago she survived an LPGA record six-way playoff to win. In her 1998 rookie season, Pak won with a then-LPGA record 23-under 261 total at the 6,319-yard, par-71 Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Pak will be competing against several other Farr winners, including two-time champion Penny Hammel (1985 and 1989), Jane Geddes (1987), Laura Davies (1988), Brandie Burton (1993), Kathryn Marshall (1995) and Joan Pitcock (1996).

Also competing for this year's $150,000 first-place prize are Annika Sorenstam, who has won three tournaments this year, and Hall of Famer Betsy King, with two wins this season. Pat Hurst and Meg Mallon have each won once this year.

Other LPGA stars in the 72-hole event are Hall of Famers Amy Alcott, Beth Daniel and Nancy Lopez.

This year's tournaments is the last of five consecutive $1 million events on the LPGA's summer schedule.

Last year, Pak won with a 12-foot uphill birdie putt at the first playoff hole. She shot a final-round par 71 to make the playoff at 8-under 276.

The loss was particularly bitter for Carin Koch, who was seeking her first LPGA victory. She held a two-stroke lead coming to the 72nd hole where Pak would later hit the winning putt, but encountered troubles with the trees lining the fairway and fell back into the playoff.

Two years ago, Pak shot an LPGA-record 61 in the second round and finished at 261 for the lowest 72-hole total in tour history, winning by nine strokes.

Karrie Webb broke Pak's LPGA 72-hole scoring record with a 26-under performance at the 1999 Australian Ladies Masters.

Before shooting 70-75 to miss last week's cut, Pak gave signs she was heating up with a third-place finish in the LPGA Championship. That increased her season earnings to $248,269 -- 17th on the tour. Webb leads with $953,463 in winnings.

Pak won back-to-back majors during her rookie season in 1998, taking the LPGA Championship and the U.S. Women's Open. Four days after winning the Open in a playoff, she shot her 61.