Introducing, So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo: Golf Digest Woman: Golf Digest

Introducing, So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo

Sunday, July 10, 2011 Comments

COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. -- The leaderboard at the U.S. Women's Open changed drastically Sunday morning, with Cristie Kerr shooting a two-under 69 to take a big leap forward, and Mika Miyazato, Karrie Webb and Paula Creamer struggling to break par.

Two players who zoomed into the spotlight this morning are Hee Kyung Seo and So Yeon Ryu, who shot 68 and 69, respectively.

Seo, also know as the supermodel of the fairways (she's 5-feet-7), turned 25 years old last Friday. She won the 2010 Kia Classic to earn category 7 status on the LPGA Tour, and her best finish at a major is a T5 at the 2010 Ricoh Women's British Open.

(Related: Read about Seo's win at the Kia Classic.)

Ryu, who doesn't have status on the LPGA Tour, grabbed a spot in this year's Open by way of a top-five finish on the 2010 Korea LPGA Tour money list (fourth). Her best showing at an LPGA Tour event was a T12 at the 2010 Hana Bank Kolon Championship, and her best finish at a major was a T25 at last year's Women's Open.

With impressive showings this morning and just 30 minutes of break between their third and final rounds, these two South Korean standouts should be able to ride their momentum this afternoon.

--Ashley Mayo