UM Golf: Lion Kim wins US Amateur Pub Links
Congratulations are due to my former teammate Lion Kim. A soon to be senior and captain of the 2010/11 men’s golf team, Lion won the U.S. Amateur Public Links today after beating David McDaniel 6 & 5. He largely dominated the match losing only 2 of 30 holes played. One of the great perks of winning this event is that the champion is invited to play in the Masters and the U.S. Open as well as numerous other PGA Tour events.
...for Lion -- congratulations to him. It looks like this year's team is looking really promising. Any insight you can provide on that topic?
The foundation is certainly in place for this team to have a great year. They return 3 players (Kim, Thompson & Sitompul) that were key contributors during the run we made at Inverness. Lion obviously just won the biggest tournament of his life which should give him a lot of confidence. Matt Thompson arguably has been the best player on the team for a year and a half while Alexander Sitompul is probably the most talented player I have seen at that level.
Other than those 3 the team will largely be looking for contributions from Alex Frankel, a junior with experience, Jack Schultz, the Big Ten freshman of the year, and incoming freshman Joey Garber, winner of the 2010 Michigan Amateur. Last year the team did okay but struggled to find a 4th score consistently so having 3 guys that will compete for that role will be crucial to their success.
Jack Newman, who played for MSU, won the Pub Links a year or two ago.
Great to see a Wolverine take it. Augusta will be a memory he'll enjoy for the rest of his life. Way to go.
...pro career. Any chance you could add some diaries from time to time on the Men's (and even the Women's) Team(s)? Your insiderness and your golfing expertise would make the diaries significantly better than if they came from a rank amateur like me who can only regurgitate what mgoblue.com puts out.
Is here.
...anytime you write about anything other than football and basketball, only a small portion of the MGoBlogerati give it a look. Those that do, care - so you'll get a small, but interested and grateful response. Updates on your pro tournaments with links to your blog would also be welcome.
I think you'd find it worth your time.
I agree. Sports like golf, baseball, softball and volleyball have a small but hardcore following. It would be great to hear from someone who knows. Thanks and good luck in your career.
If Tiger asks Lion to play a few holes with him at Augusta Mr. Kim would be wise to ask for clarification.
Winning 28 of 30 holes-Leaders and Best.
of the year, so far, in Michigan Athletics. Fanstastic for Lion Kim.
USGA link:
http://www.usga.org/ChampEventSite.aspx?id=17179869204
Go Blue at the Masters!!!!
This is a huge story for Wolverine athletics. Congratulations Lion! Represent at the Masters and U.S. Open! We knew you were clutch when you hit a hybrid to 2-feet on the 18th hole last year to close out USC in the national quarterfinals.
Quite impressive! (I'm resisting saying "The Lion Roars!" But obviously I didn't try hard enough.)
This is great news and quite the accomplishment. I hope he fares well at the major tournaments and the upcoming year. With a new practice facility on the way, things are looking up for the golf programs.
we can raise the money to have Mr Kim sport an MGoBlog hat or the "Space, Bitches. Space" polo for next year's Master's 1st round?
There is an apocryphal story from Augusta; that when the spectacluarly-great collegian John Cook of OSU went to Augusta after going to the finals of the U.S. Amateur, he showed up for a practice round wearing frayed bell-bottom jeans and a "Let's Boogie" t-shirt. They sent him back up to the Crow's Nest to change.
Anyway, I think that the University, the NCAA, the USGA and ANGC would all have, uh, "issues" with such a plan.
You can rest assured that in the second week of April of 2011, as a current Michigan team captain and just weeks away from competing in the 2011 NCAA championships, Lion Kim will be sporting a Wolverines golf bag. And, I'd guess, a Michigan visor.
to Lion, great kid, great player.
Still can't stand Andrew Sapp.
That's pretty great. Back when I spent some time on the team there was just not that much emphasis on the sport. It looks like the new coach is doing a great job bringing in truly talented players. There is every reason why UM should be a solid team year in and year out. Good luck to them this year.
korea!