StarBulletin.com

Kim second at junior amateur


By

POSTED: Sunday, July 26, 2009

BEDMINSTER, N.J. » Another final and another runner-up trophy.

Kimberly Kim has been consistent the past two months, but not in the way she had hoped. The former Big Island resident lost the USGA Girls' Junior Amateur Championships yesterday to Amy Anderson of North Dakota 6 and 5.

“;(Anderson) played like consistent, but I wasn't really paying attention because I played so bad,”; said Kim, who lost in the USGA Women's Amateur Public Links final last month 7 and 6.

Kim, who was competing in her fourth USGA final, was trying to become the first player to win the junior amateur after winning the women's amateur.

Anderson was 2 up after the morning round at the Trump National Golf Club's New Course yesterday. The 17-year-old took control when winning three of the first four holes in the afternoon.

Putting was the difference.

Anderson made a 10-footer at No. 2 to halve the hole, sank a 12-foot birdie at No. 3 and then won No. 4 when Kim three-putted from 8 feet. She also halved the fifth, seventh and ninth holes with par-saving putts.

Kim, who moved to Arizona from Hilo two years ago, is headed to the University of Denver.

In the boys' final, Jordan Spieth of Dallas defeated San Diego's Jay Hwang 4 and 3.

lost it, I felt like I had a really good chance, and I was playing very well.”;

Anderson just smiled as she left a 20-foot birdie putt on the edge of the 13th hole to close out her match with Kim, who i become the youngest woman to capture the U.S. Women's Amateur in 2006 at age 14.

“;I think this is proof you don't have to live in Florida to be able to do well in golf,”; said the home-schooled Anderson, who will be attending North Dakota State.

Kim, who moved to Arizona from Hilo two years ago, is headed to the University of Denver.

In the boys' final, Jordan Spieth of Dallas defeated San Diego's Jay Hwang 4 and 3. The wins by Spieth and Anderson marked the first time since 1991 that the stroke play medalists from the first two days of the tournament have gone on to survive the match play phase.