Andy Shim

Andy Shim, the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, has decided to turn pro, Golfweek learned Monday.

“I really wanted to focus more on golf – that was the biggest reason,” Shim said. “I wanted to play college golf, but I knew that if I went (to college), I would get behind and not be able to focus as much on golf.”

Shim, 18, said last summer that graduating from high school on time in the spring of 2013 would be difficult as he was struggling with his grades and test scores. He moved to Duluth, Ga., from South Korea about four years ago and is home-schooled.

“My grades are really low, so I don’t know what kind of college would want me,” Shim said last July after notching the biggest final-round comeback in U.S. Junior history, rallying from 5 down to defeat Jim Liu.

Shim, who ends his junior career ranked No. 5 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings, said he hasn’t signed up for any professional events yet, but he hopes he can soon begin playing mini-tours like the eGolf Pro Tour or NGA Tour.