JI-YAI GOING FOR HER 10 th VICTORY

　　新浪体育讯　XIAMEN (China) Dec 13, 2007: South Korean teenage queen of golf Shin Ji yai has already won nine events thus far this year. The 19-year-old Ji-yai is hoping to make it 10 when she steps on the starting tee tomorrow to defend her title in the USD250,000 Orient China Ladies Open at the Orient Golf Club, here.

　　Looking very resplendent and confident, Ji-yai claimed that she is still in peak form and predicts to finish the three-round Orient China Ladies Open with a 14-under total.

　　"It is different this year as compared to last year where the tournament had four rounds. This year it is only three rounds. I'm looking forward to successfully defend my title," said Ji-yai, who virtually 'toyed' with the Orient Golf Course last year to win by eight strokes..

　　The only person whom she believes could stand in her way of achieving her 10 th win is her compatriot Ji Eun-hee. Incidentally, Ji-yai will partner Eun-hee to represent Korea in the Women's World Cup at the Gary Player Country Club, South Africa in January.

　　In the Women's World Cup early this year, Ji-yai partnered Young Kim to finish third. She's already the 'new edition' of Pak Se-ri to most people in Korea.

　　Though Ji-yai, who hails from Gwangju, has had enough exposure playing in high profile competitions, she still claims that she feels nervous playing in big tournaments. "This is because, when I played in some of the US LPGA tournaments, the gallery for the star players like Natalie Gulbis, Annika and other top notch players are incredible. It makes me nervous. Sometime, in the near future I hope to reverse this scenario and have more people follow me so that I could feel more comfortable and not be so nervous," she said.

　　Ji-yai started the year impressively by finishing fifth in the Australian Open, runner-up in the ANZ Championship, third at the Avian Masters, 15 th place in the Kraft Nabisco Championship and sixth in the US Women's Open before going on to win nine other tournaments in the KLPGA and on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

　　Her compatriot Eun-hee however, is not relenting. She said: "Ji-yai may be my partner for the next Women's World Cup and my compatriot but I want too want to play and win the Orient China Ladies Open. I'm sorry if I had to spoil it for her. Ji-yai has the edge because she's already played here a couple of times, while I'm a first-timer here and to this course."

　　Eun-hee, a rookie on the USLPGA said her form is good and she hopes to take advantage of the stable weather and good course conditions to end the year on a winning note. Last year, she too had a good year, winning the Macau Ladies Open and the Malaysian Ladies Open on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.