Pak off to a fast start in Las Vegas

Victoria Sun

Friday, Nov. 12, 1999 | 9:49 a.m.

It wasn't an easy decision, but Se Ri Pak knew she had to draw the line somewhere.

Because if she didn't, she figures that in three years, her career as a golfer on the LPGA Tour would probably be over.

And that's something, "I don't want to be happen," the South Korean player said on Thursday. "I love to play golf. I don't want to quit because I too tired."

Pak teed off with the lead in this morning's second round of the PageNet Championship at the Desert Inn Golf Club. She carded a 6-under-par 66 on Thursday.

Scotland's Janice Moodie finished the day a stroke behind Pak while former champion Karrie Webb, Kelly Robbins and Lorie Kane each shot a 68.

Defending champion Laura Davies finished one-under par in the first round.

After Pak, the 1998 LPGA Rookie of the Year, was hospitalized for a week last fall for what was termed exhaustion, she decided this year would be different by finally uttering the two-letter word that deserted her vocabulary -- no.

That's "no" to the hordes of people willing to do everything -- including her laundry -- that she wanted them to do. "No" to her former swing coach, David Leadbetter and "no" to her former manager Steven Kil (she parted ways with both of them last year).

"Last year (was) so tight schedule," she said with exasperation. "I unable to rest.

"Not even 10 minutes for myself. Peoples want interview, take pictures, sign autographs, stuff like that. They take from me. Just need me to do something, forgot I was human.

"Other time, so many people around," she continued. "Now, I mean this year, starting this year, I think I just don't want people around me as much as last year.

"I just take care of myself. I laundry myself and practice myself. And I travel myself and everything. More fun and I learn more faster."

At this rate, Pak might well be on her way to regaining the form that helped her become the youngest player ever to win the U.S. Open and the first rookie since Liselotte Neumann to capture a major for her first win when she won the McDonald's LPGA Championship last June.

Pak, ranked fourth on the money list with $730,366, struggled the first half of the season missing three cuts, with her best finish a tie for 11th at The Office Depot in January. But she recovered with a strong second half.

Pak made every cut, tied for 14th at the U.S. Open and won three tournaments to help her finish in the top 30 on the LPGA Tour's money list to be eligible for the PageNet Championship.

Still, since she hasn't had the same success she encountered as a rookie, players like Webb and Juli Inkster, who shot a 2-under-par 70. Pak has gone relatively un noticed entering this week.

Webb, has won six tournaments this year and in position to sweep the Rolex Player of the Year, Vare Trophy and money title while recent LPGA Hall of Fame inductee Juli Inkster has won five tournaments including the U.S. Open and the McDonald's LPGA Championship.

With all the fuss that was made over Pak last year, a break from the attention has been a welcome relief.

"They forget about me?" she said with a laugh. "Maybe. Actually, I mean, this year, Julie and Karrie Webb is their season.

"They play so good and play so strong. Every player around here are top 30. It looks like two players are best alreayd; so I don't mind trying to follow them. But still, you know, this is only second year for me."

Pak admitted there have been two draw backs to her newfound independence.

As much as she loves her parents, she says they still look at her "like little baby," and call her two or three times a day.

When she went back to Korea to visit, she introduced LPGA Tour player Nancy Lopez to her friends and family.

While the two friends were hanging out, it was Lopez who got the star treatment, not Pak.

"She got so many gifts from people," Pak said. "I don't have any."

Pak paused to laugh before adding, "I don't have any ... This kind of -- other time when I go somewhere that I get many gift, but this time I went with Nancy together, they forget about me.

"They thought about Nancy first. I didn't get anything. Right after this tournament finish, maybe I call her to say something; maybe I need some gifts or something."

* A DENTIST'S DREAM: Moodie spent part of her week off sitting in a dentist's chair to have three cavities filled and a temporary crown fitted. This wasn't her first lengthy visit. "Last year, it was four wisdom teeth and seven cavities and now it's three," she said. "Everybody says my smile is so nice." LPGA PAGENET CHAMPIONSHIP