ROGERS — Pak out to regain old form
Se Ri Pak is back at Pinnacle Country Club for the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship after a two-year hiatus.
Pak, 34, became the youngest member of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame when she was inducted into both at age 30 on Nov. 12, 2007. She competed in the inaugural NW Arkansas Championship in 2007, shooting a first-round 72 before the event was rained out, and tied for 65th at Pinnacle in 2009 with a score of 218.
“I’m really glad to be back again,” said Pak, who is originally from Daejeon, South Korea, but now lives in Orlando, Fla. “I think the course conditions are the best ever. The weather is hot, but I’d rather it be hot than cold.”
Pak, who is in her 15th year as a full-time member on the tour, has won five career majors but hasn’t earned a major victory since 2006. She is 37th on this year’s money list with earnings of $170,640 and sixth on the all-time list with $11,555,829. Pak’s last tournament title came in May 2010 in Mobile, Ala.
Pak was sidelined six weeks with a dislocated left shoulder after falling on some stairs at the Mobile (Ala.) Bay LPGA Classic in late April. She returned two weeks ago and tied for 19th at the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Pittsford, N.Y.
“I know my game is getting closer each week,” Pak said. “It could be anytime soon. My goal is to win, but right now I’m just happy to come out and play.” Working at it
Paula Creamer isn’t afraid to work late hours.
Creamer hasn’t won in two years on the LPGA Tour, but it’s not because of a lack of effort. Creamer spent extra time on the Pinnacle Country Club course Wednesday night in preparation for this weekend’s tournament.
“I played in the sprinklers the last couple of holes,” said Creamer, whose last victory was at the 2010 U.S.
Women’s Open. “I know what I need to do. I know I need to put in the time and I need to put in the work. I’m just not satisfied with my year so far.
“If I have to be out there until 9 at night, then I’ll be doing that.”
Creamer has nine career victories but only three top-10 finishes this year. She is ranked No. 12 in the world and has earned a little more than $196,000 in 11 events this year.
Her year has picked up as of late. She finished tied for 14th last week after two consecutive top-10 finishes, including a tie for ninth in the LPGA Championship.
“I feel good with where it’s going,” Creamer said.
“I’m starting to figure out some things on the golf course and making some more putts. I’ve been hitting it really close. I’ve been hitting a lot of greens, giving myself opportunities.
“Hopefully I can continue that this weekend and into the following week.” Don’t forget B-12
Karen Stupples had a brief health-related scare this week that put her status for the NW Arkansas Championship in jeopardy, but Stupples said Thursday she is set to begin play in the tournament today.
Stupples, who played at Arkansas State in 1991-1992, felt pain in her left leg when she woke up Wednesday morning and withdrew from the pro-am that day. She went to see a doctor in Fayetteville on Wednesday and to another doctor in Rogers on Thursday to determine what was causing the pain.
After nothing abnormal was found through X-rays, a magnetic resonance imaging test and a blood test, one of the doctors told her the pain was likely caused by a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Stupples played nine practice holes Thursday morning, and she said the pain had subsided enough for her to remain in the field.
Sports, Pages 24 on 06/29/2012