Stephanie Kim Wins U.S. Amateur Sectional in Carefree

CAREFREE, Ariz. – Sophomore Stephanie Kim won the local sectional held at the Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree on June 21 to qualify for the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. She advances to the field with three players from the sectional to the U.S Women’s Amateur Championship to be played in Charlotte, N.C. at the Charlotte Country Club Aug 9-15.

Kim posted a six-over 78 to hold off three players at 79 including Brianna Espinoza of Phoenix, McKenzie Jackson of Uniontown, Ohio and Alleman Zech of Indian Wells, Calif. Cheyenne Woods of Phoenix, the niece of PGA star Tiger Woods, will be an alternate along with Lauren Weaver of Scottsdale after carding rounds of 80.

Kim was chosen the 2010 Big Sky Player of the Year and the Big Sky Freshman of the Year, the first golfer in league history to win both honors in the same season. The Tempe, Ariz., native broke school records for scoring average, single round score, 54-hole score, tournaments won and number of par of better rounds in a season. She capped her freshman season by winning the 2010 Big Sky Championships with a school-record tying 54-hole total of 216, posting rounds of 69-70-77 to claim the title by four strokes over teammate Megan Buck.

She is the first NAU player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur since current senior Bethany Leclair made the field in 2007.

CAREFREE, ARIZ. - DESERT FOREST GOLF CLUB