Jenny Kim has been playing golf competitively for less than two years but was still able to win the girls title in last week’s Sevier County Prep Golf Championship with scores of 37, 40 and 38 over the three-day tournament.
“That’s what everybody says,” Kim said when asked if she is a natural at the sport after having picked up on it so well in such a short time. “When I was 12 I played for half a year and I started again last year. I really like golf, I guess that’s why I’ve picked up on it so fast, even though it was six years ago I still remember what my coach said and the way he taught.”
Kim is a native of Korea and moved to The King’s Academy last year. In Korea, Kim was not afforded much time to concentrate on her golf game. Once arriving at The King’s Academy, Athletic Director Dan Kirkpatrick found out that Kim had played golf in her homeland and the rest, as they say, is history.
In the past few months Kim, a senior, has went on several visits to colleges throughout the country. She had no earthly idea when she was 12-years old and learning to play the game in Korea that in six years she could parlay those skills into a college scholarship in America.
“I never thought I’d play golf again,” said Kim. “Coach K is the one that suggested that I try it again. I went to California over the summer and played in a tournament. I didn’t play very well but I got to visit some colleges. I love the weather in California. I went to USC, UCLA and Long Beach State and they were all nice schools with good golf programs.”
Kirkpatrick, who is also the Dean of Students at the school, has been keeping a close eye on Kim’s college opportunities since her only parental guidance is half-a-world away.
“She has also heard from Washington and Tulane,” Kirkpatrick said. “She has been offered by Middle Tennessee State already and is going to visit Appalachian State in two weeks. Her mind’s wide open and will talk to her mom about it. Her Mom will be the main influence on her decision.”
“There’s no doubt I’m harder on her than a lot of the other kids because her parents aren’t here,” Kirkpatrick added. “I have the blessing of her parents too. But you’re not going to meet a person who doesn’t like Jenny Kim. The only thing that you can say about her is that she is special. She really is special. She has a lot going for her–a ton going for her–and that’s why I’m harder on her, because she can be anything she wants to be.”
Kim is focusing now on the Regional Tournament later this month at Three Ridges Golf Course in Knoxville. ‘Regional tournament’ is another American term that she wasn’t familiar with at first. She says now that her main focus is the tournament and any college decision can wait.
“The biggest reason that I quit golf was because of studying,” she said. “In America you can do both. I had no idea what regional was or what state was. Coach K was the one who was excited at first, not me. But now I have a great chance to go to college and get a scholarship so it’s very exciting.
I really don’t care which college I go to right now,” said Kim. “I want to go to that wants me more and where I can play golf. I haven’t been playing that long so I’m happy to get any opportunity.

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