DEVENS, MA (June 27, 2009)--A month after being named Golfweek’s College Player of the Year, Jennifer Song added a major amateur title to her resume.
The rising USC sophomore won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Saturday in a convincing 7-and-6 victory over Kimberly Kim.
It was the largest margin of victory in the 33-year history of the event.
Song, who was 5 up after 18 holes at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Mass., increased her lead to 7 up after 27 holes. In total, she was 9-under par and made just one bogey in the championship match.
“I think it was my best round of golf,” said Song, who hit 25 of 30 greens and didn’t miss a fairway. “Whenever I was on the green, I just told myself, ‘If you can see it, it’s going to go in.’ ”
Born in Ann Arbor, Mich., Song, 18, grew up in South Korea and was a member of the 2007 and ’08 Korean National Team. She was named Golfweek’s 2008-09 Player of the Year after finishing No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings. The Trojans finished third at the national championship.
Kim has had plenty of experience in USGA events. In 2006, she became the youngest winner in U.S. Women’s Amateur history when she triumphed as a 14-year-old. Earlier that year, she was runner-up at the Women’s Publinx. Now 17, Kim won the AJGA’s Rolex Girls Junior Championship June 19. She will attend Denver in the fall.
Song, however, has had trouble closing the door at major events. She finished runner-up at the Publinx in 2008. At the NCAA Women’s Championship in May, Song held the individual lead through 71 holes. However, she three-putted No. 18 for double bogey in the final round at Caves Valley, handing the title to Purdue senior Maria Hernandez. Song left the course in tears.
“I told one of my friends before the championship, I said, ‘Maybe I really don’t know how to win.’ But she told me, you know, ‘Jennifer, you’re a great player, so don’t give up. You’re very close,’ ” Song said. “So I just kept telling myself that if I work hard and keep focusing on what I’m doing, some day I’m going to win. And thank God, I got one today.”
Final results from the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, played June 22-27 at the par-72, 6,627-yard Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Mass.:
FINAL
Jennifer Song def. Kimberly Kim 7 and 6
SEMIFINALS
Jennifer Song def. Jisoo Park 2 up
Kimberly Kim def. Joanna Coe 4 and 3
QUARTERFINALS
Jisoo Park def. Cydney Clanton 1 up
Jennifer Song def. Casie Cathrea 4 and 3
Kimberly Kim def. Sun Gyoung Park 6 and 5
Joanna Coe def. Sydnee Michaels 1 up
ROUND OF 16
Jisoo Park def. Stephanie Kono 1 up
Cydney Clanton def. Lizette Salas 1 up
Jennifer Song def. Brittany Altomare 1 up
Casie Cathrea def. Alice Kim 2 and 1
Sun Gyoung Park def. Kristen Schelling 5 and 4
Kimberly Kim def. Sara-Maude Juneau 2 and 1
Sydnee Michaels def. Whitney Neuhauser 1 up
Leanne Bowditch def. Joanna Coe 1 up
ROUND OF 32
Stephanie Kono def. Tiffany Lua 2 and 1
Jisoo Park def. Kristen Hill 19 holes
Lizette Salas def. Stefanie Kenoyer 2 and 1
Cydney Clanton def. Simone Hoey 4 and 3
Brittany Altomare def. Ellen Mueller 3 and 2
Jennifer Song def. Alexandra Stewart 5 and 4
Alice Kim def. Victoria Park 5 and 4
Casie Cathrea def. Sarah Brown 1 up
Kristen Schelling def. Kate Ackerson 1 up
Sun Gyoung Park def. Jennifer Hahn 4 and 2
Kimberly Kim def. Caroline Kim 2 and 1
Sara-Maude Juneau def. Taylor Barrett 5 and 4
Whitney Neuhauser def. Angela Villela 19 holes
Sydnee Michaels def. Katie Burnett 2 and 1
Joanna Coe def. Yueer Cindy Feng 2 up
Leanne Bowditch def. Aimee Neff 4 and 3
ROUND OF 64
Stephanie Kono def. Emily Powers 4 and 3
Tiffany Lua def. Caroline Powers 3 and 1
Kristen Hill def. Nikki Koller 1 up
Jisoo Park def. Sara Grantham 21 holes
Lizette Salas def. Kristina Nhim 2 and 1
Stefanie Kenoyer def. Kayla Mortellaro 2 and 1
Cydney Clanton def. Miki Ueoka 2 up
Simone Hoey def. Candace Schepperle 3 and 2
Brittany Altomare def. Pennapa Pulsawath 2 and 1
Ellen Mueller def. Ashley Medders 3 and 1
Jennifer Song def. Junthima Gulyanamitta 2 and 1
Alexandra Stewart def. Kristina Merkle 2 and 1
Alice Kim def. Gennifer Mendez 19 holes
Victoria Park def. Seo Hee Moon 1 up
Sarah Brown def. Glory Jooyoung Yang 2 and 1
Cassie Cathrea def. Kamryn Ruffin 3 and 2
Kristen Schelling def. Annie Park 4 and 3
Kate Ackerson def. Mary Mattson 3 and 2
Sun Gyoung Park def. Karen Chung 2 up
Jennifer Hahn def. Martina Gavier 4 and 2
Caroline Kim def. Courtney Gunter 3 and 2
Kimberly Kim def. Mallory Fraiche 3 and 1
Sara-Maude Juneau def. Carly Werwie 20 holes
Taylor Barrett def. Briana Mao 2 up
Whitney Neuhauser def. Paula Reto 5 and 4
Angela Villela def. Kim Kaufman 4 and 3
Sydnee Michaels def. Madison Pressel 3 and 2
Katie Burnett def. Mari Chun 2 and 1
Joanna Coe def. Mary Camody 3 and 2
Yueer Cindy Feng def. Becca Huffer 3 and 1
Leanne Bowditch def. Sarah Whitney 4 and 3
Aimee Neff def. Cassie Boles 3 and 2
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