Tour Alum Angela Park Grabs Early Lead at U.S. Women’s Open

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., June 28, 2007 – Angela Park, a 2006 graduate of the Duramed FUTURES Tour, emerged as the early first-round leader of the 62^nd U.S. Women’s Open Championship with a score of three-under-par 68. The rookie from Torrance, Calif., showed the kind of mettle needed to card four birdies and one bogey at a difficult Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.

Park’s quick start gives her the first-round lead for the fourth time this season. She missed only one fairway and rolled in 27 putts for the best showing in her second appearance at a U.S. Open Championship.

“This course rewards great shots and you have to keep focused out there,” said Park, who finished eighth on the 2006 Duramed FUTURES Tour money list and carded seven top-10 finishes last year. “Every hole is a challenge. I tried really hard to stay in the present and not look too forward.”

Park was able to complete her round before play was suspended at 2:47 p.m. EDT, due to storms. All of the afternoon groups were on the course when play was suspended. Play resumed at 6:23 p.m., but was suspended again for darkness at 8:25 p.m. The first round will resume at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

The native of Brazil missed her last cut at the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open, but is off to a solid start this season. She has held the first-round lead or a share of the lead at this year’s Fields Open in Hawaii (where she finished tied for third), the Ginn Tribute (where she finished fifth), and the McDonald’s LPGA Championship (where she tied for sixth).

“I think it’s because in the first round, you have nothing in your mind,” said Park, when asked why she gets off to such quick starts. “Everyone is starting fresh. Everyone is starting on the same page.”

Tour alum In-Bee Park of Las Vegas, was two-under par after 15 holes when play was suspended. Park finished third on the 2006 Duramed FUTURES Tour money list to earn 2007 LPGA exempt status.

Current Tour member Jane Park of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was one-over par after 15 holes. Park tied for 10^th at last year’s Open. Carolina Llano of Medellin, Colombia, was one over after eight holes.

Charlotte Mayorkas of San Diego, a 2006 graduate of the Duramed FUTURES Tour, was able to complete her round at one-under-par 70.

“I’m definitely really excited because it’s the biggest tournament of the year on a really good golf course,” said Mayorkas, who finished second on the Tour’s 2006 money list. “It feels really good, especially seeing so many [Duramed] FUTURES Tour players make it here this week.”

Tour members completing their first round of the U.S. Women’s Open are as follows:

Su A Kim of Seoul, Korea 73

Moo Sattayabanphot of Bangkok, Thailand 73

Kelly Cap of West Palm Beach, Fla. 74

Ji Min Jeong of Kyungki, Korea 74

Kelly Cavanaugh of Palos Verdes, Calif. 74

Allison Fouch of Grand Rapids, Mich. 75

Sophia Sheridan of Guadalajara, Mexico 77

Kristina Tucker of Stockholm, Sweden 77

Mo Martin of Altadena, Calif. 77

Audra Burks of Altamonte Springs, Fla. 77

Brandi Jackson of Greenville, S.C. 78

Jana Peterkova of Czech Republic 78

Yoora Kim of Seoul, Korea 78

Ashley Prange of Noblesville, Ind. 80

Ashley Grier of Hagerstown, Md. 81

Leah Wigger of Louisville, Ky. 82

Maria Kostina of Nakhabino, Russia 89