In Gee Chun’s first knowledge of the U.S. Women’s Open came a decade ago when Birdie Kim surprised the golf world at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver by holing a bunker shot on the final hole to win the title.
When Chun won the U.S. Women’s Open last week in Lancaster, Pa., she joined Kim (2005) and Kathy Cornelius (1956) as the only players to win the title in their first appearance.
Here are some other statistical nuggets regarding Chun:
- Chun was a young math prodigy bound for a college, but then she was hooked by golf and both of her parents lost their jobs. She turned pro at age 18 and won the Korean Women’s Open in her first pro start by birdieing the last four holes.
- Her nickname is “Dumbo” and her Korean fan club is the “Flying Dumbos.” “Some (U.S. Women’s Open) American fans recognized that nickname and called me Dumbo,” Chun said. “Some were even shouting it, ‘Let’s go Dumbo,’ that has made me really enjoy the game.”
- At age 20, Chun is just the fourth-youngest winner on the LPGA this year. The youngest are Lydia Ko (age 17 and 18 for her two wins), Minjee Lee (18) and Hyo-Joo Kim (19). She is also the third-youngest U.S. Women’s Open winner, behind 2008 winner Inbee Park (age 19 years, 11 months) and 1998 winner Se Ri Pak (age 20 years, 9 months).
- South Korean players have won six of the past eight U.S. Women’s Opens and 10 of the last 17 majors dating back to 2012.
Solheim Cup standings
The 2015 Solheim Cup will take place Sept. 18-20 at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club near Heidelberg, Germany. Players began earning points at the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open and can earn points through the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Aug. 23, giving them five tournaments to make a move.
The American team will be composed of the top eight points earners, the top two on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings not in the top eight in points and two picks by U.S. Captain Juli Inkster.
The European team will be made up of the top four in points, the top four in Rolex Women’s World Rankings and four picks by European Captain Liselotte Neumann.
Here are the current standings:
| Europe | |
| Gwladys Nocera, France | Points |
| Suzann Pettersen, Norway | Points |
| Charley Hull, England | Points |
| Carlota Ciganda, Spain | Points |
| Anna Nordqvist, Sweden | Rankings |
| Azahara Munoz, Spain | Rankings |
| Sandra Gal, Germany | Rankings |
| Catriona Matthew, Scotland | Rankings |
| Positions 9-12 | TBA |
| United States | |
| Stacy Lewis | Points |
| Lexi Thompson | Points |
| Michelle Wie | Points |
| Cristie Kerr | Points |
| Brittany Lincicome | Points |
| Morgan Pressel | Points |
| Angela Stanford | Points |
| Gerina Piller | Points |
| Jessica Korda | Rankings |
| Paula Creamer | Rankings |
| Positions 11-12 | TBA |
Etc.
More youth: Chun’s 68-66 weekend finish to win was matched by 18-year-old Brooke Henderson, who rallied to finish T5. Henderson is scheduled to play in the Epson Tour’s Toyota Danielle Downey Classic in Rochester, N.Y., this week. … Should Stacy Lewis need some soothing from her T3 finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, she’ll get it this week at the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. Lewis was born in nearby Toledo, Ohio. … Danny Lee, who won the Greenbrier Classic on the PGA Tour two weeks ago, laid the path for the LPGA’s Lydia Ko. He moved to New Zealand from South Korea at age 8, similar to Ko’s move. He is now age 25. … Zach Piller, who won last week on the Web.com Tour, is the husband of LPGA player Gerina Piller. With the win, Zach secured his PGA Tour card for 2016. He was motivated over the last year by spending time with Gerina on the LPGA after he lost his tour playing privileges.
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