Aree Song
Encyclopedia
Aree Song (born Aree Wongluekiet 1 May 1986) is a Korean professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. Her father is South Korea
n and her mother is Thai. She was born in Bangkok
, Thailand. She is a South Korean citizen, and has represented Thailand in junior team competition, but she has spent much of her life in the United States.
, setting a number of "youngest" age records. In 1999 she won the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at thirteen years old, becoming the youngest player to win any United States Golf Association
championship. In 2000 she tied for 10th place in the Kraft Nabisco Championship
, at the age of thirteen. The same year, a few months after her fourteenth birthday, she became the youngest ever semi-finalist at the U.S. Women's Amateur. In 2001 she was the recipient of the Nancy Lopez Award, which is presented to the best female amateur golfer of the year. The next year she placed first individually at the World Amateur Team Championships and helped Thailand to a second place finish. She won a number of adult amateur events in 2002 and 2003 and in the latter year she placed fifth at the U.S. Women's Open.
and ended the year 28th on the money list. Song eagled the 72nd hole at the Kraft Nabisco to tie for the lead but lost by one shot when Grace Park
birdied the final hole.
In 2007, Song suffered a lack of energy and continued to struggle, dropping to 88th place on the official LPGA money list. She sat out all of 2008 due to health problems including severe irritable bowel syndrome and adrenal insufficiency.
Song returned to the LPGA Tour in 2009 and was on the leaderboard at the LPGA Championship in June before a final-round 78 pushed her back in the pack. In 2010, she again competed in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament ("Q-School") to attempt to regain her playing privileges on the LPGA Tour. She won the Tournament and gained full membership on the LPGA Tour for 2011.
(Korean: 송나리) has also been a member of the LPGA Tour.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n and her mother is Thai. She was born in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand. She is a South Korean citizen, and has represented Thailand in junior team competition, but she has spent much of her life in the United States.
Early life and amateur career
Song was a child prodigyChild prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, setting a number of "youngest" age records. In 1999 she won the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at thirteen years old, becoming the youngest player to win any United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
championship. In 2000 she tied for 10th place in the Kraft Nabisco Championship
Kraft Nabisco Championship
The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983...
, at the age of thirteen. The same year, a few months after her fourteenth birthday, she became the youngest ever semi-finalist at the U.S. Women's Amateur. In 2001 she was the recipient of the Nancy Lopez Award, which is presented to the best female amateur golfer of the year. The next year she placed first individually at the World Amateur Team Championships and helped Thailand to a second place finish. She won a number of adult amateur events in 2002 and 2003 and in the latter year she placed fifth at the U.S. Women's Open.
Professional career
Song turned professional in August 2003 at the age of 17 and 3 months. She was granted an exemption from the LPGA's minimum age rule to allow her to enter the 2003 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament where she finished fifth to earn membership on the LPGA Tour for 2004. In her rookie season, she finished second at the Kraft Nabisco ChampionshipKraft Nabisco Championship
The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983...
and ended the year 28th on the money list. Song eagled the 72nd hole at the Kraft Nabisco to tie for the lead but lost by one shot when Grace Park
Grace Park (golfer)
Grace Park is a South Korean professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:Park was born in Seoul, South Korea. She moved to Hawaii at the age of 12, and then to Arizona. She received the 1996 Dial Award as top female high-school scholar-athlete in the United States...
birdied the final hole.
In 2007, Song suffered a lack of energy and continued to struggle, dropping to 88th place on the official LPGA money list. She sat out all of 2008 due to health problems including severe irritable bowel syndrome and adrenal insufficiency.
Song returned to the LPGA Tour in 2009 and was on the leaderboard at the LPGA Championship in June before a final-round 78 pushed her back in the pack. In 2010, she again competed in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament ("Q-School") to attempt to regain her playing privileges on the LPGA Tour. She won the Tournament and gained full membership on the LPGA Tour for 2011.
Personal life
Song's twin sister Naree SongNaree Song
Naree Song is a Korean professional golfer.Song's birth name was Naree Wongluekiet, and she and her identical twin sister were born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her father is South Korean and her mother is Thai. She is a South Korean citizen, and has represented Thailand in junior team competition, but...
(Korean: 송나리) has also been a member of the LPGA Tour.