With fanfare, Pak makes cut -- she's a Hall of Famer

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. -- There was cake. There were presents. There was a bouquet of roses. But what touched Se Ri Pak most was the show of support from her countrywomen from Korea who filled the back of a press room to pay tribute to the newest World Golf Hall of Fame member.

"It is very, very special to have them here," said Pak, who probably never celebrated after a round in which she went without a birdie, shot 1-over-par 73, and trailed by six. That's because yesterday's first round of the McDonald's LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock Golf Course officially qualified the 29-year-old Pak for the Hall of Fame. Induction will take place Nov. 12, but for Pak -- who counts five major titles among her 23 LPGA Tour wins -- the emotions have already overflowed.

"I'm a very lucky person. I don't know how to say it, but I'm very honored," she said. "This is the best moment of my life."

Unlike other Halls of Fame, with the LPGA Tour you get in not by a vote, but via a qualifying system. You need 27 points (a combination of victories and honors) and Pak surpassed that total last year. All that was left was to officially be a member of the LPGA Tour for 10 years, which happened as soon as she finished her first round here.

She became the 23d LPGA Tour member to earn entrance into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla. Curtis Strange and Hubert Green will be inducted along with Pak.

With fellow Hall of Famers Betsy King and Beth Daniel on hand, Pak smiled most warmly when she looked back to see her fellow South Koreans.

"Two years ago [when she was slumping], I had no game, no confidence," said Pak. "I wouldn't have made it back without my friends. They always remind me what I mean to them, but they mean a lot to me, too. I never, ever want to make them disappointed again."

Judging by the silly string her countrywomen sprayed and the smiles they wore, Pak needn't worry about that.

Annika Sorenstam posted her best round, a 2-under 70, since returning after seven weeks to rest a back injury. Last week, in her first week back, Sorenstam's best effort was a 71 as she finished tied for 36th . . . Karrie Webb birdied four of her first eight holes, then ran off eight straight pars in a rock-solid 68 to get within one of the leaders. The performance put to rest any thought that she was still shaken by last year's loss on the first hole of a playoff, when Pak hit her 4-iron from 201 yards to within inches. "I think maybe if I had [done something bad] to lose that playoff, that would have been more disappointing," said Webb . . . Paula Creamer bogeyed the par-4 18th to shoot 71 . . . Nancy Lopez, 50, came home with seven straight pars. Unfortunately, she was 11 over through 11 as she shot 83 in the second tournament of her comeback . . . Carri Wood of South Dennis, Mass., shot 75.