Almost halfway through the 2006 LPGA schedule, even the most casual golf fans have begun to notice a trend when they open their newspapers on Monday morning. Nine of the first 19 events completed this year have been won by Korean golfers, and although Koreans make up only about 15 percent of the tour, they have won approximately one-third of this year’s prize money.

We’ve seen Jeong Jang prove that last year’s British Open win wasn’t just a fluke by outlasting 71 competitors to claim Wegmans LPGA on June 25. We’ve also witnessed 20-year-old LPGA rookie Seon Hwa-Lee remain cool under pressure to shoot a tournament-low round of 63 on June 4 to win the ShopRite Classic with Annika Sorenstam breathing down her neck.

Perhaps the most compelling story amongst the contingent of Koreans, however, is the resurgence of a pair of golfers who all but disappeared in 2005. Mi Hyun Kim and Se Ri Pak both had tumultuous seasons a year ago, struggling with injuries, inconsistency and an array of other issues both on and off the course.

This year, Kim struck first, winning the Ginn Clubs and Resorts Open on April 30, returning to the form that helped her win back-to-back tournaments in 2002. She was chased the entire way by this season’s two hottest players, Karrie Webb and Lorena Ochoa, but a birdie on the par-5 17th all but sealed the improbable triumph. Kim posted her second victory of 2006 on July 16 at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Kim birdied the third playoff hole and denied fan favorite Natalie Gulbis her first career victory.

Pak’s victory came some six weeks after Kim’s first, on June 11 at the LPGA Championship, thanks in part to a stunning 200-yard second shot on the first playoff hole against Webb, her longtime friend and rival. When the ball settled, Pak was three inches from victory and light years from where she was a year ago.

Pak and Kim, back-to-back winners of the Rolex Rookie of the Year award in 1998 and 1999, respectively, have had their fair share of ups and downs in their time with the LPGA Tour. They’ve taken different routes to get back to where they are in 2006 and both have inspiring stories that deserve to be told.