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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:53 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2008

Kim Kim shoots 74 at U.S. women's public links

Advertiser Staff

Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim, who took second in this event in 2006, shot a 1-over 74 today in the first round of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links at the Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wis.

Kim, who resides in Arizona, is one of nine Hawai'i golfers competing in the event, being played at the Erin Hills Golf Course.

She is joined by Kapolei's Allisen Corpuz, at 10, the youngest ever to qualify for the event; Pearl City's Mari Chun; Honolulu's Cyd Okino, Stephanie Kono, Kristina Merkle and Xyra Suyetsugu, and Maui's Kelcie Kawano and Kellie Nakashima.

Corpuz, who shot an 8-over 81, is 10 years and three months. Michelle Wie was previously the youngest to qualify at 10 years, 7 months in 2000.

Kono and Merkle each shot 3-over 76 (tied 16th), Chun 5-over 78 (t40), Nakashima 8-over 81 (t73), Suyetsugu 9-over 82 (t85), Okino 11-over 84 (t106) and Kawano shot 16-over 89 (t139).

Kim's score put her among the top 10 golfers. Four golfers shot 2-under 71 today.

Okino was 2-over after her first nine. But opened her back nine (course's front nine) with a bogey, bogey, quadruple bogey en route to a 9-over 45.

The field of 156 players will be reduced to the lowest 64 players after Tuesday's second round of stroke play.

The 64 players then will compete in match play, starting on Wednesday. The second and third rounds will be played Thursday; the quarterfinals and semifinals Friday, and the 36-hole championship will be played Saturday.

Hawai'i golfers have performed extremely well in this event.

Wie won it in 2003 and finished second in 2004. Lori Castillo won in 1979 and 1980.