ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kim Kim soars to title

The former Big Island resident wins the Thunderbird International Junior by eight

Even with a seven-shot lead, former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim wasn't satisfied as she walked up the 18th hole with a 25-foot birdie putt waiting for her.

She calmly rolled it in to shoot a 67 yesterday to win the Thunderbird International Junior by eight shots in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Kim's three-day, 10-under total of 206 eclipsed the tournament scoring record. The previous mark of 209 was set in 2004 by Belen Mozo and equaled a year later by Morgan Pressel.

The tournament is for players 14- to 18-years old and attracts the top amateur golfers from all over the world.

The tournament, which has boys and girls divisions, was held at the 6,271-yard Grayhawk Golf Club, where Kim had the only round in the 60s yesterday. She beat runner-up Vicky Hurst, who closed with a 2-under 70, by eight strokes. There were 36 players in the field.

Kim wasn't the only golfer with island connections to do well.

Sacred Hearts Academy's Ayaka Kaneko finished tied for eighth with a three-day total of 4-over 220. She shot a 1-over 73 in the closing round.

Punahou's Stephanie Kono didn't fare as well. She closed with a 5-over 77 yesterday to finish in a tie for 28th at 14-over 230.

Kim opened with two birdies on the front and three on the back to finish with a bogey-free round.