In Gee Chun may have a place in Dallas, Texas, but there’s nothing like coming back home for the 27-year-old. Chun was able to see family and friends, and enjoy her mother’s home cooking when she returned to Korea to compete in the KB Financial Group STAR Championship this past September. Now, she’s back in Busan for the BMW Ladies Championship, and feels as motivated as ever in her country this week.
“All my friends here, so it was good seeing my friends before I came here. I spent a lot of time with my friends after practice and I had good food, and from mom. I was enjoy -- I was really happy to stay at home, but now I have house in U.S. too,” said Chun.
The two-time major champion, who finished the 2019 BMW Ladies Championship with a T4 result, now sits in a tie for second at -7 one stroke behind leader and fellow countrywoman, Na Rin An. Chun said she was proud of her seven birdies, especially of the one on her first hole that helped set the tone for the rest of the day.
“My tee shot fell at the right tip of the left bunker. So from my position, I thought my ball had fallen into the bunker. And I looked at the pin location, and it wasn't right behind the bunker. I thought I could play a nice bunker shot and I had a chance, but when I approached the bunker, I saw that the ball was not there, and it was in a really bad downhill lie. But I looked at the ball and I thought that I could make a really good shot and I could still set myself up with a birdie opportunity,” said Chun. “And when my caddie gave me the reading on the distance, it's actually a distance that I'm really comfortable with, so I knew I could swing the shot as I used to and I could still make it. So I think a shot like that, it does set the tone, especially for the next hole. And then if you keep up the momentum, it does set the tone for the round itself.
Chun’s 65 is her lowest first-round score since a 64 at the Volunteers of America Classic, where she finished in a tie for 14th. Chun has already recorded five top-10 finishes this season, and said she plans to take it one shot at a time the rest of the week to add another to this year’s resume. “I believe that with golf, every hole and every shot is really important, and it's the 18 holes and every shot that build into the good score that can lead to a win. So that's kind of the attitude I'll have to go in with, and I hope that the hard work that I've put in so far will come to fruition, and I really want to win,” said Chun. “And I've noticed that when I have that yearning, the pressure also comes along as well. So I think I'll have to try to really be on top of my emotions and do some mind control tomorrow on the course.”
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