Kim Takes Lead at Women's Public Links

South Bend — The 2006 U.S. Women’s’ Amateur champion, Kimberly Kim, 18, of Pahoa, Hawaii, fired a 5-under-par 66 to lead the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the 6,092-yard, par 71 Warren Golf Club.

Kim has a 1-stroke lead over her 2010 USA Curtis Cup teammate, Stephanie Kono, 20, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Lizette Salas, 20, Azusa, Calif., who shot 67.

“I haven’t shot under par forever,” said Kim. “It feels like a long time.” Kim has come close in a number of USGA national championships. She was runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in 2006 and 2009, and runner-up in last year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Her round began with a birdie on the first hole. “That’s supposed to be a jinx, but it was good for me,” she said. She made the turn two under par, and then finished with birdies at the 12th, 14th and 17th holes.  Her 15-footer on the seventh was the only birdie putt longer than ten feet.
Kim said this round, along with the USA’s Curtis Cup victory earlier in the month, was a good way to start the summer. “It gives you a sense of accomplishment,” she said, “a warm feeling.”

Kono had five birdies and a lone bogey on her way to a 67. “I just tried to keep it simple, hit fairways, hit greens and make good putts,” she said “I tried to play smart.”

Salas attributed her round to a mix of ball striking and a good short game. She had four birdies and no bogeys. “But I made great up-and-downs on the third, fourth and eighth holes to save my score,” she said.

Eleven players broke par for the round. Weather suspended play for 1½ hours, pushing back afternoon starting times. Two of the three leaders, Kim and Kono, finished in the mid-evening but took advantage of rain-softened greens.

Among early finishers, Ariya Jutanugarn, 14, of Thailand, competing here with her sister, had a 3-under-par 68. Her sister Moriya Jutanugarn, 15, shot 70. Brittany Altomare, 19, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Martina Gavier, 21, of Kent, Ohio, shot 69.

Following Tuesday’s second stroke-play round, the low 64 scorers will advance into match play. The championship concludes Saturday with a scheduled 36-hole final. The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, which is open to public course players, is one of 13 national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association.

                Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii - 33-33--66
                Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. - 33-34--67
                Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii - 32-35--67
                Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand - 34-34--68
                Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass. - 34-35--69
                Martina Gavier, Kent, Ohio - 32-37--69
                Candace Schepperle, Birmingham, Ala. - 34-36--70
                Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif. - 35-35--70
                Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand - 32-38--70
                Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. - 34-36--70
                Mercedes Germino, Argentina - 34-36--70
                Nicole Zhang, Canada - 35-36--71
                Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. - 36-35--71
                Kaylee Imel, Bluffton, Ind. - 35-36--71
                Cydney Clanton, Concord, N.C. - 36-35--71
                Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas - 37-34--71
                Janine Fellows, Houston, Texas - 35-36--71
                Sun Gyoung Park, Vail, Ariz. - 35-36--71
                Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla. - 32-39--71
                Kristina Wong, Vestal, N.Y. - 34-37--71
                Rebecca Hellbom, Sweden - 37-34--71
                Joy Trotter, Chino Hills, Calif. - 34-38--72
                Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. - 37-35--72
                Shamira Marshall, Macedonia, Ohio - 37-35--72
                Samantha Morrell, North Kingstown, R.I. - 34-38--72
                Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. - 35-37--72
                Allie White, Lancaster, Ohio - 35-37--72
                Anna Kim, Canada - 35-37--72
                Joanna Coe, Mays Landing, N.J. - 36-36--72
                Alex Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. - 36-36--72
                Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg, Pa. - 37-35--72
                Kristi Cardwell, Kokomo, Ind. - 35-38--73
                Suzie Lee, Long Island, N.Y. - 34-39--73
                Lindsay Danielson, Osceola, Wis. - 37-36--73
                Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla. - 37-36--73
                Samantha Formeck, Northern Cambria, Pa. - 37-36--73
                Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii - 37-36--73
                Maggie Yuan, Ppls Rep. of China - 36-37--73
                Gyeol Park, Korea - 38-35--73
                Kuriko Tsukiyama, Bogota, N.J. - 36-37--73
                Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. - 38-36--74
                Sara Grantham, Wilsonville, Ala. - 34-40--74
                Karlin Beck, Pike Road, Ala. - 33-41--74
                Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. - 36-38--74
                Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. - 37-37--74
                Jessica Wallace, Canada - 35-39--74
                Kathryn Rogner, Hartford, Ohio - 36-38--74
                Augusta James, Canada - 37-37--74
                Kelsey Vines, San Antonio, Texas - 37-37--74
                Tiffany Lim, San Jose, Calif. - 37-37--74
                Alice Kim, Walnut, Calif. - 38-37--75
                Kyndall Ardoin, Gibsland, La. - 36-39--75
                Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla. - 36-39--75
                Mary Mattson, Ijamsville, Md. - 39-36--75
                Ember Schuldt, Sterling, Ill. - 36-39--75
                Seohee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. - 35-40--75
                Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill. - 36-39--75
                Hayley Hammond, Mooresville, N.C. - 38-37--75
                Kelli Oride, Lihue, Hawaii - 36-39--75
                Jamie Yam, San Diego, Calif. - 36-39--75
                Michelle Mathwick, Greenfield, Wis. - 37-38--75
                Caroline Powers, Bowling Green, Ohio - 37-38--75
                Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa, Iowa - 40-35--75
                Brianna Do, Viet Nam - 39-36--75
                Alyssa Shimel, Pemberville, Ohio - 37-38--75
                Victoria Sungmin Park, Irvine, Calif. - 37-38--75
                Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. - 39-37--76
                Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas - 36-40--76
                Hana Lee, Hacienda Heights, Calif. - 37-39--76
                Diana Davis, Pembroke Pines, Fla. - 40-36--76
                Jaqueline Smith, Magnolia, Texas - 36-40--76
                Madison Opfer, Plant City, Fla. - 38-38--76
                Jessica Tarbet, Corryton, Tenn. - 37-39--76
                Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 35-41--76
                Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. - 36-40--76
                Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. - 40-36--76
                Kris Yoo, Schaumburg, Ill. - 37-39--76
                Amelia Ek, Cypress, Calif. - 36-40--76
                Szu-Han Chen, Chinese Taipei - 37-39--76
                Laura Murray, Tipp City, Ohio - 40-37--77
                Simone Hoey, Long Beach, Calif. - 38-39--77
                Jessie Jordan, Urbana, Ohio - 39-38--77
                Seungha Choi, Aurora, Colo. - 38-39--77
                Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. - 38-39--77
                Abbie Horan, Antioch, Ill. - 39-38--77
                Victoria Fallgren, Lakewood, Calif. - 37-40--77
                Alexa Kim, Canada - 39-38--77
                Emilie Burger, Hoschton, Ga. - 37-40--77
                Petra Cole, San Diego, Calif. - 36-41--77
                Christine Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich. - 40-38--78
                Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. - 38-40--78
                Shannon Warner, Livonia, Mich. - 41-37--78
                Mo Gronning, Aurora, Colo. - 38-40--78
                Alleman Zech, Indian Wells, Calif. - 41-37--78
                Bonnie Hu, Fremont, Calif. - 39-39--78
                Amy Otteson, Garner, N.C. - 37-41--78
                Samantha Sommers, St Cloud, Minn. - 40-38--78
                Paige Stalcup, Thomasville, N.C. - 39-39--78
                Jenny Hahn, Henderson, Nev. - 35-43--78
                Kayla Riede, Dixon, Calif. - 40-39--79
                Kimberly Johnson, San Diego, Calif. - 38-41--79
                Rachel Uremovich, Hilton Head, S.C. - 38-41--79
                Katelynn Hogenson, Muscatine, Iowa - 39-40--79
                Stani Schiavone, Bangor, Pa. - 36-43--79
                Katrina Hegge, Seattle, Wash. - 44-35--79
                Ashley Smith, Plymouth, Mich. - 41-38--79
                Dayana Marquez, Venezuela - 39-40--79
                Maggie Boberg, Littleton, Colo. - 41-38--79
                Kathleen Rojas, Turlock, Calif. - 39-41--80
                Mieke Canan, Tacna, Ariz. - 42-38--80
                Victoria Choi, Canada - 40-40--80
                Anna Jang, Aiea, Hawaii - 39-41--80
                Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. - 41-39--80
                Lauren Cate, St Augustine, Fla. - 41-39--80
                Hanule Seo, St Louis, Mo. - 39-41--80
                Chelsey Cothran, Springdale, Ark. - 39-41--80
                Alisha Matthews, St Louis, Mo. - 39-41--80
                Stephanie Liu, St Albans, Mo. - 37-43--80
                Belen Hernandez, Merced, Calif. - 40-40--80
                Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii - 36-45--81
                Michelle Bowles, Howell, Mich. - 42-39--81
                Elizabeth Doty, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. - 38-43--81
                Katelynn Mannix, Plattsburgh, N.Y. - 42-39--81
                Shang-Fan Huang, Sugar Land, Texas - 42-39--81
                Emily Houtz, Manhattan, Kan. - 42-39--81
                Christy Fogerty, San Diego, Calif. - 41-40--81
                Kathy Sterling, Mokena, Ill. - 41-40--81
                Michelle Caporusso, Mount Prospect, Ill. - 40-41--81
                Meaghan Kari, Windsor, Calif. - 39-42--81
                Kayla Cline, Socorro, N.M. - 42-40--82
                Whitney Neuhauser, Charlottesville, Va. - 40-42--82
                Teresa Puga, Spain - 42-40--82
                Leigh Klasse, St Anthony, Minn. - 41-41--82
                Maria Ronderos, Colombia - 41-41--82
                Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. - 41-41--82
                Genavive Dodge, Post Falls, Idaho - 43-39--82
                Mallory Viera, Howey In the Hills, Fla. - 43-39--82
                Kimbra Benson, Leonardtown, Md. - 41-41--82
                Paige Osterloo, Rapid City, S.D. - 42-41--83
                Frederique Bruell, Shaker Heights, Ohio - 44-39--83
                Ericka Schneider, Bradenton, Fla. - 39-44--83
                Emily Podlesny, Green River, Wyo. - 42-41--83
                Sarah Whitney, Hingham, Mass. - 42-41--83
                Alyssa Randolph, Knoxville, Tenn. - 40-43--83
                Allyssa Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. - 41-42--83
                Stephanie Frankian, Watertown, Mass. - 41-43--84
                Whitney French, Laguna Niguel, Calif. - 40-44--84
                Nancy Kromar, Austin, Texas - 39-45--84
                Brittany Bomar, Anchorage, Alaska - 41-43--84
                Erica Pressley, Selma, Texas - 41-43--84
                Kelly Krusoe, Northfield, Ohio - 38-46--84
                Sue Nyhus, Orem, Utah - 42-43--85
                Brittany Atterbury, Rockton, Ill. - 43-42--85
                Jessica Ngui, Richardson, Texas - 45-42--87
                Melanie Audette, Lakeland, Fla. - 40-48--88
                Rynae Baca, Wasilla, Alaska - 43-45--88