LIGC Turns Practice Ground For Korean Pro Golfers

LABUAN, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Though not as tricky as Ko’olau Golf Club, Oahu, Hawaii, United States, Labuan International Golf Club (LIGC) is still a monster golf course. The venue which has a rating of 72.4, coupled with slope rating of 130 and fairways of Bermuda 419 grass, is seen as a challenging playing ground by Korea's top five women professional golfer Seon Woo Bae. “It is a challenging, well-maintained and narrow 18-hole golf course and I picked the LIGC for my practice session,” she told Bernama when met at LIGC’s driving range Sunday. Bae, 24, who turned professional in 2012, was preparing for an international golf tournament in Japan in March. She joined the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) in 2014 and finished 28th on the money list after earning over 150 million won (RM553,000) that year. Her best finish that season was a second place at the Korea Women's Open. She finished 9th on the money list in 2017 with about 443 million won (RM1.63 million). She did not win any titles but managed three runner-up results. Bae who is ranked 36th in the Women’s World Golf Rankings was in Labuan with a group of golfers from Korean golf academy for a month-long training session. LIGC has been a popular training ground for Korean golfers since it was opened in 2013. Designed by renowned Australian designer, Parslow and Winter Golf Course Design, the Par 72 golf course is fast becoming the venue of choice amongst Borneo’s golfing fraternity. --BERNAMA