KANG TREASURES MEMORIES OF HER FATHER IN BUSAN

Visits to Busan, Republic of Korea, are always going to be slightly bittersweet for Danielle Kang. While she was born in San Francisco, Kang spent several years of her childhood living in Busan due to her father’s job. Kang was very close to her father, K.S. Kang, who died of cancer in 2013. She dedicated her breakthrough win at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to his memory and even has his signature in Korean tattooed on her right hand. So it’s understandable that coming oh-so-close to victory in his hometown brought a wistful smile to her face.

“I love the fact that people came up and said how great my dad was. I'm sure that he's known a lot of people that I don't know,” said Kang. “Despite winning or losing, I'm just really proud that I got people to remember my dad by watching me, even becoming the honorary citizen of Busan and all of the fans making those banners and everything like that.

Honestly, I'm feeling so great. I can't really rely on the result. From day one to day four, I hoped that people remembered my dad. Everyone that knew my dad remembers him. I'm pretty sure that sometimes when people, you know, pass away, you kind of forget them, and I'm really, really proud of myself that I got people to remember him.”

JANG UNDECIDED ON TAKING LPGA TOUR MEMBERSHIP

Ha Na Jang played on the LPGA Tour from January 2015 to May 2017 and cited a desire to spend more time with her family when she rescinded her Membership and returned to the KLPGA Tour.

Thanks to her win at the BMW Ladies Championship, Jang is again eligible for LPGA Tour Membership. She can accept immediate Membership or take Membership for the 2020 season. When asked her thoughts on returning to the LPGA Tour, Jang said she needed some time to evaluate her options.

“As for going back to the LPGA, there’s a lot to discuss,” said Jang, who has until Monday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. Eastern to accept 2020 Membership. “My mother is not quite well yet. I think I would have an answer for you regarding returning to the LPGA later on. I can’t say right now.”

CME GROUP CARES CHALLENGE – SCORE 1 FOR ST. JUDE

The CME Group Cares Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group will donate $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

2019 LPGA Tour rookie Kristen Gillman aced the par-3 13th hole, from 180 yards and using a 4-hybrid. There have been 31 aces made this season and a total of $620,000 donated thus far to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This more than covers the average cost of $425,000 needed to treat a pediatric cancer patient.

LEADERS TOP 10 COMPETITION

The LEADERS Top 10 competition awards a $100,000 bonus to the LPGA player with the most top-10 finishes through the completion of the event held immediately prior to the CME Group Tour Championship. In the event of a tie in total top-10 finishes, the award will go to the player with the most official wins, followed by most second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc., until the tie is broken.

With her tie for ninth at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, Jin Young Ko has taken the solo lead in the LEADERS Top 10 Competition with 12 top-10s, followed by Brooke Henderson, who has 11 top-10s. Five players are tied for third with 11 top-10s – Ariya Jutanugarn, Danielle Kang, Hyo Joo Kim, Nelly Korda and Jeongeun Lee6.

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 56 Ha Na Jang (69-67-68-65)

She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 29 putts

Jang is a member of the KLPGA Tour, where she has 11 victories, including the 2019 Hana Financial Group Championship

From January 2015 to May 2017, Jang was a member of the LPGA Tour, where she had four victories, most recently the 2017 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open; in May 2017, she rescinded her LPGA Tour Membership and returned to the KLPGA Tour, citing a desire to be closer to her family

Rolex Rankings No. 11 Danielle Kang (67-67-71-64)

She hit eight of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens, with 27 putts

Kang is in her eighth season on the LPGA Tour; she has wins at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the 2018 Buick LPGA Shanghai and the 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai

This is Kang’s 20th event of the 2019 season; she won last week’s Buick LPGA Shanghai and has eight other top-10 finishes

Kang Treasures Memories of Her Father and More From Korea

Related Articles