Rising star Grace Kim continues to stun the Aussie golfing scene
GRACE Kim’s domination of the amateur golf world shows no signs of slowing down as she continues to climb the ranks and win prestigious trophies.
The Express
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GRACE Kim’s domination of the amateur golf world shows no signs of slowing down as she continues to climb the ranks and win prestigious trophies.
The Greenacre 16-year-old is on her way to becoming the next Minjee Lee after winning the Australian Junior Championships this month.
She also helped NSW teammates Doey Choi, also of Greenacre, Hannah Park, Belinda Ji, Stephanie Kyriacou and team captain Amy Chu win the Interstate Series. They beat Victoria four matches to one.
At the championships, Kim shot spectacular rounds of 74, 68, 73 and 72 to finish the tournament at Port Kembla Golf Club five-under-par and win her biggest title to date.
Park finished a shot behind Kim, while Choi came in third at two-under-par to complete the NSW trifecta.
Kim and Park were deadlocked with one hole remaining. In dramatic fashion, Kim sunk a birdie on the final hole for victory.
“I honestly thought we were heading for a playoff,” an ecstatic Kim said. “I’m so stoked with the win.”
Kim said her proud mother, who watched the proceedings all day, was struggling to hold in her emotions after the final ball was sunk.
“Mum was in tears afterwards,” Kim said.
“She could barely talk, she didn’t expect it.”
The girls’ amateur championship title means Kim has secured a spot in next year’s ISPS HANDA Australian Women’s Open.
Kim said she couldn’t wait to get out on to the course and take on the tough competition at the Open.
“I’m stoked,” she said. “I really can’t put into words what that means.”
At the age of 12, Kim won the ClubsNSW Academy Games girls’ golfing competition with a final score of 170.
Last year was a stellar season of golf for the youngster.
In August, the teenager represented Australia in a competition in Canada.
In December, Kim took out the Greg Norman Junior Masters on the Gold Coast — one of the country’s most prestigious junior golf championships.
She also collected the Golf NSW Jean Derrin Trophy, awarded to the female player with the lowest scoring average across a series of tournaments in NSW for the year.
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