Wongluekiet changes allegiances

HUTCHINSON, Kan -- During the third round of the U.S. Women's Open, amateur Aree Wongluekiet waved a different flag.

Since coming to the United States six years ago, Wongluekiet and her twin sister, Naree, have been claiming Thailand, their birthplace, as their homeland.

On Saturday, Aree was announced on the first tee, "from Korea."

The change happened because their father, In Jong Song, is from Korea.

"It's no big deal; we have dual citzenship," said the 16-year-old after shooting a 4-over par 74, Saturday.

This morning before the round, Song went to the USGA office at Prairie Dunes Country Club and asked if the country Aree represented could be changed. Interestingly, this was the third different residence attributed to Wongluekiet this week.

During the first round, she was announced from Bradenton, Fla. -- where the twins go to school. During the second round, Aree hailed from Thailand, and on Saturday, Korea.

Song also indicated that the twins would eventually dropg Wongluekiet, which is their mother Varnee's last name. The switch is expected to be made until they turn pro.

"'Song' is much easier to remember than 'Wongluekiet,'" said Song.

Caddie change

For the first two rounds, Naree Wongluekiet caddied for her twin sister, Aree. Even though Aree made the cut, Naree has the weekend off.

Naree is sidelined by a foot problem that she has been suffering from for the past year.

"This is a real hilly course, up and down, up and down," said Naree about Prairie Dunes. "My feet are not feeling too good, so my dad thought it would be smart to take a rest."

Filling in for Naree was their father, In Jong.

Early Riser

Korea's Se Ri Pak found herself in an unusual position Saturday morning. The 1998 U.S. Women's Open champion was in the first group at 7:15 a.m. by herself.

Pak said it was the first time in her professional career she had ever played a round without a partner. After playing the first two rounds with defending champion Karrie Webb and reigning U.S. Women Amateur champ Meridith Duncan, Pak said it was also kind of quiet.

"It was weird because there weren't so many people out there this morning," said Pak.

She didn't waste any time, as she played the grueling 6,293-yard course in just 2 hours and 56 minutes. It also seemed like the faster she played, the better she played. Pak fired a 2-under 68.

No Parking

Earlier in the week, the sign "Reserved for the defending champion" sat in the first spot next to the Prairie Dunes Country Club clubhouse. On Saturday morning, the sign had disappeared but not the champion, Karrie Webb.

Despite missing the cut with a 12-over 152 total, Webb, who won the U.S. Women's Open the past two years, was seen hitting balls Saturday morning. Later she headed into the HealthSouth Fitness van for a workout.

Webb missed the cut Friday, ending a streak of 56 consecutive cuts made on the LPGA Tour. Her last missed cut was Sept. 24, 1999, at the Safeway LPGA Championship, where she shot 74-76.

This is only Webb's fifth cut missed on Tour in 152 starts as an LPGA professional. It was her second cut missed at an LPGA major championship (1999 McDonald's LPGA Championship).

Webb's record of 56 cuts made was the second-longest current streak. Annika Sorenstam is currently leading the cuts-made category, with 73.

Weekend warriors

Michelle Redman and Rosie Jones both made the cut and extended their streaks of working the weekend at the U.S. Women's Open to eight, which is the longest current streak.

 

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