(27 June 2011 – Harris, Michigan)
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Teenager Stephanie Kim has earned her first professional victory at the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber of Commerce. The rookie from New York carded rounds of 67, 72 and 70 to finish at 7-under par and win by two shots from runner-up Jane Rah while Hanna Kang finished third at 4-under par.
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rn“It wasn’t as hard leading the pack as it was hitting the fairway today,” said Kim, 19, who hit only nine fairways in regulation in the final round. “I was scraping it around, but making a lot of putts. When my swing fell apart, I guess I just dug deep.” Kim rolled in a 15-foot birdie on the 3rd hole, a 90-foot monster for birdie on the 7th and a five-foot birdie on the 8th hole.
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rnShe gave back two shots with bogeys on the 9th and 10th holes. On the par-5 11th hole, Kang chipped in for eagle to draw within two strokes of Kim and it was certainly game on.
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rnKim then rolled in an eight-footer for birdie on No. 11, gave it back with a bogey on No. 12 when she flew the green, and then rolled in a 15-foot birdie on the 13th hole. With Kim wobbling, Kang, Rah and rookie Lizette Salas were applying pressure with five holes to play. However, none were good enough to get closer than two shots.
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rnKim however, had a tricky fairway bunker shot into the last green. Her blast out of the sand hit the firm green and rolled 65 feet past the hole, leaving Kim a testing final green putt. Kim eyed the long putt on a double green built in the shape of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and rolled it to eight feet, making her putt for par and the win.
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rnIn spite of four inches of rain earlier in the week, 40kph winds in Friday’s first round, and firm and fast greens in the final round, Kim was able to hang on to her lead in this week’s inaugural event. She said the win felt like “a weight was lifted” from her shoulders, adding that it also helps validate her decision to leave college golf after only a year. “It’s not about silencing the critics,” said Kim, “It’s about me and my future. If you don’t step on the first tee and think you can win, you shouldn’t play. I’m glad I delivered.”
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rnThe best of the ALPG Members was Alison Whitaker who made a fine comeback after an opening round of 78. She posted rounds of 67 and 72 to fight her way up to a tie for 12th. Cathryn Bristow had an equally impressive comeback from a disastrous opening round of 80. She bounced back with rounds of 70 and 68 to finish just a shot behind Whitaker in a season-best tie for 16th.
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