Duke's Gina Kim wins Pinehurst North & South Women's Amateur

PINEHURST, N.C. — With a pair of match play wins on Saturday, Duke University rising senior Gina Kim claimed the prestigious Pinehurst North & South Women’s Amateur title on Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.

Kim closed out the impressive week with a 3&1 victory over Anna Morgan on Saturday afternoon to win the championship. She joined fellow Blue Devils Brittany Lang (2003), Candy Hannemann (2000), Beth Bauer (1998, 1999) and Stephanie Sparks (1992) to claim the Pinehurst North & South Women’s Amateur title.

“This is literally a dream come true,” said Kim. “Quite honestly, I never expected this to happen. It’s hard enough just to get to match play here.”

In the championship match, both golfers came out firing with birdies on the first hole. Kim, who hails from Chapel Hill, N.C., two-putted for par on No. 4 to take a 1UP lead, but Morgan parred the next hole to tie the match.  With two birdies over a span of four holes from No. 8-11, Kim took a commanding 4UP lead.  Morgan tried to mount a comeback with birdies on No. 13 and No. 15, but Kim birdied No. 17 as she stuck her tee shot close and sealed the victory.

Kim, a three-time All-America with the Blue Devils, faced Allisen Corpuz in the morning and registered a 6&4 victory, winning her first match that didn’t require 18 holes all week. With victories on No. 1, No. 5, No. 7 and No. 8, Kim held a 3UP lead through eight holes.  She parred No. 11 and No. 12 to go 5UP and then closed the match on No. 14.

Coming out of stroke play, Kim earned the No. 32 seed in match play in a playoff. She then went on to defeat the No. 1, No. 17, No. 9, No. 21 and No. 15 seed to win the title.  Her round of 16 and quarterfinal matches both went to 19 holes, before Kim finished it off.