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Kim Enters Final Season Coming Off Impressive Year
9/12/2021 6:35:00 AM | Women's Golf
By Charlotte Tannebaum, Duke Athletics Communications Student Assistant
DURHAM -- Reflecting on her play over the past few months, Gina Kim remembers being struck by the feeling that she was about to hit her stride. As always, it seems that the senior golfer's instincts were spot on.
Kim's Duke golf career has been nothing short of extraordinary, earning All-America accolades three straight years, helping lead Duke to the NCAA Championship as a freshman, the ACC title as a junior and seven team victories with the Blue Devils.
The 2021 ACC Women's Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year, Golfweek All-American, and 2021 ACC Individual Champion is currently the No. 13 ranked amateur in the world. In the past year, Kim has managed to take her play to a whole new level with a difficult schedule of tournaments.
Her impressive run started in January of 2021 as she won the Harder Hall Invitational and then it trickled over to her spring season with Duke. She won the ACC Individual title, clinched both match play contests to help lead the Blue Devils to the ACC Championship and placed tied for fifth at the NCAA Championship. Kim then collected a 4-0 record at the Arnold Palmer Cup, won the Pinehurst North & South Women's Amateur, competed in the U.S. Women's Open and shot 15-under-par at LPGA Qualifying School.
"Gina's spring and summer were loaded with successes in big events, including her ACC Championship, her North and South victory, Arnold Palmer Cup wins, and her Stage I LPGA victory," said Duke head coach Dan Brooks. "She played well and is all the stronger for having taken on the challenge."
Kim recently returned home from representing the United States in the legendary Curtis Cup, where she and teammates brought home the victory for the first time on foreign soil since 2008, something she describes as "a life-changing experience." Kim wasn't the only one representing the Blue Devils in Wales: leading this year's team was Duke Hall of Famer and Curtis Cup captain Sarah LeBrun Ingram, who will continue to hold her position on next year's squad as well.
"The wisdom and experience that she has really influenced the team positively," said Kim. "I could just tell USGA picking her was a no-brainer. It never hurts to have some Duke support out there."
As much as she appreciates these Duke connections now, becoming a Blue Devil was not always in the plans for Kim.
"I was a huge North Carolina fan growing up actually," said Kim. "Both of my parents work for UNC, my sister went to UNC, and now I'm over here, going to college on the other side of town."
Despite her ties to the rival shade of blue, Kim fell in love with Duke and has never looked back. Now happily settled in Durham, she has spent the past four years making great strides throughout her collegiate career and turning heads with her impressive skills.
"She has all the natural talent you see watching the best players in the world," said Texas All-American golfer Pierceson Coody, who played with Kim at the Arnold Palmer Cup. "I'm sure I'll be seeing her on TV very soon."
Kim feels that her biggest growth while at Duke has been mental. Her steadfast and relentless determination is one of her greatest strengths as a player, and will no doubt continue to drive her success.
"Gina will do whatever it takes to keep testing herself, on and off the course," said Brooks. "I have the utmost respect for her willingness to keep putting it all on the line before and during her competitions. It's her chosen method of learning how to let her best golf happen when it matters most. When Gina competes, you know she's put herself into it completely."
It was this ambition and competitive spirit that sparked her passion for the game in the first place: originally, Kim didn't take to the sport. But then, something changed:
"I realized I love competition - having my heart race for something that I really want to win. I still do today."
This past summer, her competitive spirit and determination have driven her to many successes all around the world. One notable example happened close to home, on the famous Pinehurst No. 2 here in North Carolina. It's a course that Kim has played on - and struggled with - for years. But instead of throwing in the towel, Kim let her past experiences motivate her.
"Somehow, that course makes me want to come back and challenge it again."
And that's exactly what she did. Kim found victory this summer, winning the Pinehurst North and South Women's Amateur.
Even after an exciting and successful summer, Kim was looking forward to coming back to Durham and playing for the Blue Devils. A close-knit seven person team, each member has had the chance to form strong bonds with the other players and coaches. This year, she is the only senior on the squad. With three years of collegiate experience under her belt, Kim is a natural team leader and role model for the rest of her teammates.
"I just hope I can be a good influence, so I try to watch my words, watch my actions. I'm definitely more conscious of how I present myself to the public because I want to serve as a good example for the rest of the team," said Kim.
Kim and the Blue Devils open the 2021-22 campaign Sept. 13-15 in the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo, Minn.
The senior golfer is a great role model for any student athlete. Kim has not only excelled on the course, but also academically as a three-time WGCA Scholar All-America and member of the ACC Honor roll.
"It helps when you've got professors in your family who instill a deep respect for education," said Kim. "It's just been ingrained into my brain that as passionately as you play golf, you better be working just as hard with your academics."
As her time at Duke dwindles down, Kim has begun looking towards the future and has big ideas for the impact that she wants to make in Durham and beyond.
"As much as I want to win, I also want to make an impact on the communities around me," said Kim. "I want to figure out what I can do to serve as a good role model and an inspiration to others."
When she joins the ranks of professionals, Kim looks forward to having the opportunity to participate in philanthropic efforts. She plans to be a donor for the Birdies for Babies program, a partnership that supports Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Kim also wants to donate to another cause close to her heart: the women's golf program.
"They've given me so much," she says. "I honestly think it's going to be very hard to repay this in one full lifetime, but I can try."
Through her leadership and consistent positive example, Kim has already begun giving back to the Duke community. As she continues her standout year and looks towards her final season with the eyes of the golf world on her, one thing's for certain: Gina Kim is up for the challenge.
#GoDuke
DURHAM -- Reflecting on her play over the past few months, Gina Kim remembers being struck by the feeling that she was about to hit her stride. As always, it seems that the senior golfer's instincts were spot on.
Kim's Duke golf career has been nothing short of extraordinary, earning All-America accolades three straight years, helping lead Duke to the NCAA Championship as a freshman, the ACC title as a junior and seven team victories with the Blue Devils.
The 2021 ACC Women's Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year, Golfweek All-American, and 2021 ACC Individual Champion is currently the No. 13 ranked amateur in the world. In the past year, Kim has managed to take her play to a whole new level with a difficult schedule of tournaments.
Her impressive run started in January of 2021 as she won the Harder Hall Invitational and then it trickled over to her spring season with Duke. She won the ACC Individual title, clinched both match play contests to help lead the Blue Devils to the ACC Championship and placed tied for fifth at the NCAA Championship. Kim then collected a 4-0 record at the Arnold Palmer Cup, won the Pinehurst North & South Women's Amateur, competed in the U.S. Women's Open and shot 15-under-par at LPGA Qualifying School.
"Gina's spring and summer were loaded with successes in big events, including her ACC Championship, her North and South victory, Arnold Palmer Cup wins, and her Stage I LPGA victory," said Duke head coach Dan Brooks. "She played well and is all the stronger for having taken on the challenge."
Kim recently returned home from representing the United States in the legendary Curtis Cup, where she and teammates brought home the victory for the first time on foreign soil since 2008, something she describes as "a life-changing experience." Kim wasn't the only one representing the Blue Devils in Wales: leading this year's team was Duke Hall of Famer and Curtis Cup captain Sarah LeBrun Ingram, who will continue to hold her position on next year's squad as well.
"The wisdom and experience that she has really influenced the team positively," said Kim. "I could just tell USGA picking her was a no-brainer. It never hurts to have some Duke support out there."
As much as she appreciates these Duke connections now, becoming a Blue Devil was not always in the plans for Kim.
"I was a huge North Carolina fan growing up actually," said Kim. "Both of my parents work for UNC, my sister went to UNC, and now I'm over here, going to college on the other side of town."
Despite her ties to the rival shade of blue, Kim fell in love with Duke and has never looked back. Now happily settled in Durham, she has spent the past four years making great strides throughout her collegiate career and turning heads with her impressive skills.
"She has all the natural talent you see watching the best players in the world," said Texas All-American golfer Pierceson Coody, who played with Kim at the Arnold Palmer Cup. "I'm sure I'll be seeing her on TV very soon."
Kim feels that her biggest growth while at Duke has been mental. Her steadfast and relentless determination is one of her greatest strengths as a player, and will no doubt continue to drive her success.
"Gina will do whatever it takes to keep testing herself, on and off the course," said Brooks. "I have the utmost respect for her willingness to keep putting it all on the line before and during her competitions. It's her chosen method of learning how to let her best golf happen when it matters most. When Gina competes, you know she's put herself into it completely."
It was this ambition and competitive spirit that sparked her passion for the game in the first place: originally, Kim didn't take to the sport. But then, something changed:
"I realized I love competition - having my heart race for something that I really want to win. I still do today."
This past summer, her competitive spirit and determination have driven her to many successes all around the world. One notable example happened close to home, on the famous Pinehurst No. 2 here in North Carolina. It's a course that Kim has played on - and struggled with - for years. But instead of throwing in the towel, Kim let her past experiences motivate her.
"Somehow, that course makes me want to come back and challenge it again."
And that's exactly what she did. Kim found victory this summer, winning the Pinehurst North and South Women's Amateur.
Even after an exciting and successful summer, Kim was looking forward to coming back to Durham and playing for the Blue Devils. A close-knit seven person team, each member has had the chance to form strong bonds with the other players and coaches. This year, she is the only senior on the squad. With three years of collegiate experience under her belt, Kim is a natural team leader and role model for the rest of her teammates.
"I just hope I can be a good influence, so I try to watch my words, watch my actions. I'm definitely more conscious of how I present myself to the public because I want to serve as a good example for the rest of the team," said Kim.
Kim and the Blue Devils open the 2021-22 campaign Sept. 13-15 in the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo, Minn.
The senior golfer is a great role model for any student athlete. Kim has not only excelled on the course, but also academically as a three-time WGCA Scholar All-America and member of the ACC Honor roll.
"It helps when you've got professors in your family who instill a deep respect for education," said Kim. "It's just been ingrained into my brain that as passionately as you play golf, you better be working just as hard with your academics."
As her time at Duke dwindles down, Kim has begun looking towards the future and has big ideas for the impact that she wants to make in Durham and beyond.
"As much as I want to win, I also want to make an impact on the communities around me," said Kim. "I want to figure out what I can do to serve as a good role model and an inspiration to others."
When she joins the ranks of professionals, Kim looks forward to having the opportunity to participate in philanthropic efforts. She plans to be a donor for the Birdies for Babies program, a partnership that supports Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Kim also wants to donate to another cause close to her heart: the women's golf program.
"They've given me so much," she says. "I honestly think it's going to be very hard to repay this in one full lifetime, but I can try."
Through her leadership and consistent positive example, Kim has already begun giving back to the Duke community. As she continues her standout year and looks towards her final season with the eyes of the golf world on her, one thing's for certain: Gina Kim is up for the challenge.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
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