Player Information/Pairings/Results
June 11, 2023
We all know the old adage that practice makes perfect.
In the case of Palo Alto resident Catherine Kim, it can also make you an NCGA champion.
Kim, 26, made a on par on the first hole of a four-way sudden-death playoff to defeat Lara Tennant, Holly Bare and Jen Brumbaugh to win the third annual NCGA Women's Mid-Amateur at Poppy Hills.
A self-described 'COVID golfer', Kim--now a 0.3 Handicap Index--has only been playing golf for three years.
"I've been practicing and playing like crazy the last couple of years. I guess all that practice has paid off," said Kim.
While she's a new NCGA champ, Kim came into the Mid-Am on a bit of a roll. Last week, she won the club championship at her home club, CordeValle in Morgan Hill.
"It's amazing to get this win," said Kim, who was helped along by a Pabble Beach caddie named Bernie. "It was fun but also grueling."
Following a bogey on the 18th to finish regulation, Kim fell into a tie with Tennant, Bare and Brumbaugh (all playing in the same foursome) with a total of 5-over 147. On the first playoff hole (par-4 1st), Brumbaugh went right, and then right into the forest again, leading to a an eventual triple-bogey.
That left three. While Bare would miss the green in regulation, leading to an eventual bogey both Tennant, a winner of three straight U.S. Senior Women's Amateurs from 2019-2021 and Kim reached the green in two. Tennant would end up three-putting, while Kim two-putted for the win.
It didn't hurt that Kim's birdie attempt putt was almost identical to the putt she had on No.1 to start her round.
"I'd had that same putt. The first time I was a little short, so I knew that second time that I needed to hit it a bit harder," Kim said.
During her round, Kim looked to be breaking away after chipping in for eagle on the par-5 9th. Neither Bare, Brumbaugh or Tennant, however, gave in.
"I felt the pressure of them all day. The only time I really didn't feel it was when we got to the playoff hole. Then I felt like the pressure shifted to everybody," Kim said.
Brumbaugh had the tee shot of the day, getting within about 60 yards from the green on the 400-yard 9th after her drive got a huge bounce near the penalty area.
Tennant would defeat Bare for second place on the fourth hole of the playoff.
Second Round Photo Gallery
June 10, 2023
Palo Alto resident Catherine Kim is the player to chase after opening day of the annual NCGA Women's Mid-Amateur at Poppy Hills.
Kim, 26, posted a solid score of 1-over par 72 to take a two-shot lead over the field. She'd post a 36 on the front nine with three birdies and three bogeys. After making the turn, she'd card two more birdies but also a bogey and double-bogey.
In second place at 74 is 33-year-old Jennifer Brumbaugh.
Holly Bare and Lara Tennant are both T-3 at 75. Tennant, who hails from Portland, won three straight U.S. Senior Women's Amateur titles from 2019-2021.