AAustin Kim didn’t need anything spectacular at the Epson Tour Championship. Entering the week ranked 15th in the race for the card following the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic, two spots behind the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic, it’s going to take a big effort if the Epson Tour sophomore wants even the slightest chance of earning her LPGA Tour card.
And she gave birth to a boy.
After opening his week in Daytona Beach, Fla., with a ho-hum 71, Kim found an extra gear and flashed Jones on the course at the LPGA International over the next three rounds. She posted a two-under 64 in the round, then backed it up with a pair of 65s over the weekend to help her capture her first Epson Tour victory and move into third place in the Race for the Card, LPGA Tour status. For the 2024 season.
It was a dream come true for Kim, who only turned professional in May 2022 and finally broke through after posting nine-to-10 finishes all season. The moment was made even more special by the fact that Kim had her mom Biljo in her bag and walked with her daughter every step of the way to victory.
„Winning is another thing, but I’m really happy with all the hard work I’ve put in mentally, physically, all the conditioning, all the maintenance, all the weeks. Working my hardest. It’s really a testament to what we’ve been doing all summer,” he said after the win. Kim said. „We’ve talked all year about if we’re doing the right things, if I’m building good habits, and it’s not a matter of if, it’s when.