13-year-old tops in U.S. Women's Open local qualifier

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

KO OLINA — Kimberly Kim shot a 1-over-par 73 yesterday to win medalist honors at the U.S. Women's Open local qualifier at Ko Olina Golf Club.

Kim has all the tools necessary to win in Hawai'i women's golf lately: braces, a yearning to play on a school team and tremendous talent. The 13-year-old will leave intermediate school in a few weeks and join sister Christine, who won the state high school championship last week, at Waiakea in the fall.

Sacred Hearts senior Kayla Morinaga and O'ahu pro Julie Brooks — "a proud 39" — also claimed sectional slots by shooting 77s in steady 20-mph winds yesterday. U.S. Golf Association officials had the 14 entrants play the course predominantly from the middle tees, at 6,420 yards.

Australian pro Katy Jarochowicz, on her way home after playing on a California mini-tour, earned the final slot when she won a three-hole playoff with Japan's Akane Oshiro. Those two and Lori Planos tied at 78. Planos, who regained her amateur status in January, had to catch a plane home to Maui and is second alternate.

Planos played in four U.S. Opens, the last when she turned pro in 1983. She knows the value of being able to qualify here. So does Kaua'i's Mary Bea Porter-King, who sits on the U.S. Golf Association executive committee, and convinced the USGA the cost of qualifiers was so prohibitive Hawai'i needed its own.

"It's such a privilege," Planos said. "The U.S. Open is so fun. The conditions are the toughest you're going to see anywhere.

"And then, it means so much to the Americans."

Mari Chun won a playoff to claim third alternate over Jaime Koizumi. Both shot 79, along with Stephanie Kono, who did not participate in the playoff.

Top finishers at the 16 local qualifers across the country advance to nine sectionals. A record total of 1,158 entries, from 49 states and 42 countries, were received this year.

Hawai'i will have its own sectional for the second year, June 13 at Ko Olina. The medalist will advance to the U.S. Women's Open, June 23 to 26 in Colorado.

Kim sank three birdie putts, including an 18-footer on the first hole and a 25-footer at No. 16. Her caddy was Turtle Bay Resort Director of Golf Matt Hall, who used to work with the Kim sisters when he lived on the Big Island. They now work with Mauna Kea pro Kevin Hayashi, who caddied for Christine.

According to Kimberly, she asked Hall where to hit the ball on every shot. Hall said she pretty much put it right where he told her.

Kimberly's reasons for playing the qualifier were just as simple. "My dad wants me to turn pro after I graduate," she said. "And this is good experience."

NOTES

Waiakea senior Amanda Wilson, who played in last year's U.S. Open after finishing as first alternate at the Hawai'i sectional, was exempt from local qualifying. Punahou sophomore Michelle Wie earned an exempt spot in the U.S. Open field after finishing 13th last year.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.