Shin looks for more awards with Mizuno Classic win
SHIMA, Japan (AP) South Korea's Jiyai Shin will look improve her chances of adding a player of the year award to her newly earned LPGA Tour rookie of the year status by defending her title at the Mizuno Classic starting Friday.
The 21-year-old Shin, who has recorded three victories and nearly $1.7 million in earnings this season, was named as the latest recipient of the Louise Suggs Award as the LPGA Tour's rookie of the year on Monday
Shin turned in three solid rounds at last year's Mizuno Classic to beat Japan's Mayu Hattori by six strokes for her second of three victories in 2008.
"I won here last year, so to come here I feel very comfortable about this course," Shin said. "I really like playing in the Japan Tour, so I want to have fun this week."
Shin leads the player of the year standings with 141 points, 10 ahead of Lorena Ochoa, who will also be competing for the $1.4 million purse at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club's 6,506-yard course.
Other top-ranked players include Taiwan's Yani Tseng, Ai Miyazato of Japan, Australian Karrie Webb and In-Kyung Kim of South Korea.
South Korea's Na Yeon Choi will be looking to challenge Shin for the Mizuno title after earning her second career victory Sunday at the Hana Bank KOLON Championships in South Korea.
Miyazato, Mika Miyazato, Shiho Oyama and Momoko Ueda will all be biding to become only the second Japanese player to win this tournament in the last 10 years.
Ueda won here in 2007 following five straight wins by Annika Sorenstam from 2001 to 2005 and Webb's victory in 2006.
Miyazato is second behind Shin in money rankings with three top-10 finishes this year, including her first LPGA victory at the Evian Masters.
Miyazato said closing the gap on Shin in the money rankings provides plenty of motivation.
"Being in second in the money ranking and the chance to become a money winner does motivate me," Miyazato said. "I think I am playing in a good comfortable pressure now, and it is leading to good results. All these things are giving me confidence as well."
Updated November 4, 2009
