Sue Kim Returns to U.S. Women's Open

By: Brad Ziemer, The Vancouver Sun. May 14, 2012

Photograph by: Ward Perrin, PNG Files

Langley's Sue Kim is heading back to the U.S. Women's Open for the second straight year.

Kim fired rounds of 75 and 67 to finish tied with Emma Talley of Kentucky at a 36-hole sectional qualifier Monday in Bellingham. They grabbed the two spots that were up for grabs to this year's U.S. Women's Open, which goes July 5-8 in Kohler, Wis.

Last year, Kim made the cut at her first U.S. Open and finished tied for 50th place.

The 21-year-old Kim is a regular on the Symetra Tour, the LPGA Tour's developmental circuit. She is playing Tuesday and Wednesday at a $60,000 Canadian Women's Tour event at Richmond Country Club.

Kim struggled with her putter in her opening round Monday at Bellingham Golf & Country Club. But she chipped in for eagle on the first hole of her second round and followed that up with a birdie on No. 2 en route to her five-under 67.

She thinks having played well at year's U.S. Open will help her this year.

"That will give me some confidence going back there again," she said Monday night. "I feel like I have more experience and my game has improved, so I am looking forward to it."

Forty-eight women teed it up in Monday's qualifier. Coquitlam's Soobin Kim, who just completed her freshman year at the University of Washington, came close to qualifying. She tied for fourth spot after shooting rounds of 73 and 72 to finish at even par.

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