Kim steady down the stretch to win Open
By KEITH WALTHER
Vista Publisher/Editor
Hannah Kim never blinked.
A former two-time Big Ten Player of the Year at Northwestern, Kim shot par over the final six holes to outlast two challengers and capture the 20th annual Golf Capital of Tennessee Women’s Open, Saturday at Stonehenge Golf Club.
Kim, who only turned pro in June, shot a 68 on the first day of the tourney Thursday and then fired back-to-back rounds of 72 on Friday and Saturday for a winning 212 total.
She edged out Maria Fernanda Lira Solis and Ashli Bunch who finished just one stroke back at 213.
Bunch shot the day’s low round with an impressive 66. She was seven strokes off the pace entering the final round and shot a sizzling 31 on the front with birdies at holes 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Kim continued her tear on the back nine with a birdie at the 10th which put her one stroke behind Kim and Lira Solis at that point. However, she was never able to draw even, recording pars the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, Lira Solis — from Mexico City — held the lead after the 10th hole where she birdied. But a bogey at the 12th and another at the 17th dropped her a stroke behind the steady Kim.
Kim, a native of Chula Vista, CA, had all pars on the day with the exception of a birdie at the 9th and a bogey at the 12th. At Northwestern, Kim was a three-time WGCA All-American and was All-Conference four times.
Mychael Oberry, an amateur from Auburn University, tied for third with Karen Sanford and Emily McLennan — all shooting 214 totals. McLennan entered the final round tied for the lead but carded a 73.
Last year’s winner Sarah Hoffman finished in a tie for eighth at 218.
Fairfield Glade’s Jean Kraft finished fifth in the Senior Division.