The Young And Pressure-Less

Junior Amateur Final Features Two Icy-Cool Customers In Chung, Kim

 

By David Shefter, USGA

 

San Francisco - Ah, the innocence of youth. Sometimes it's just better to be incredulous and maybe a bit naïve. The thought of feeling pressure or anxiety doesn't manifest itself quite as quickly. Things like the yips and shakes haven't become part of their vernacular.

 

Take the two individuals who will compete in Saturday's 18-hole championship match at the 57th U.S. Junior Amateur at The Olympic Club, Sihwan Kim and David Chung.

 

Sihwan Kim has surprised even himself by reaching the U.S. Junior Amateur final. The 15-year-old is bidding to become the second-youngest champion in the event's 57-year history. (John Mummert/USGA)

These two youngsters aren't even old enough to possess a driver's license yet they are about to play for the biggest prize in junior golf.

 

But you would hardly know it by their expressions. To them, the rolling hills, plush fairways and challenging holes of the 6,790-yard Lake Course is almost like a Sunday stroll.

 

Nerves? Are you kidding? These kids' icy-cool demeanor would make Retief Goosen shiver.

 

At 14 years, 6 months and 10 days, Chung, who beat Sung Kang in the semifinals, 2 and 1, would become the youngest champion in the history of the championship. He'd break the record by some guy named Tiger Woods, who 15 years, 6 months and 28 days old when he won the first of three consecutive titles in 1991.

 

"I'm just going to stick with my game plan," said Chung, of Fayetteville, N.C. "I'm not going to try and think about any records right now. I just can't think about [the title]. I just think of it as another round."

 

Sihwan Kim, at 15 years, 7 months and 20 days, would become the second-youngest champion in the event's history. He'd also be the fourth 15-year-old to win the championship, and all of them were California residents at the time. Although he was born in Korea, Kim now lives in Fullerton.

 

But Kim seems shocked that he's even in this position. He all but conceded his Friday morning quarterfinal match to defending champion and 2004 stroke-play medalist Brian Harman on Thursday night. Then he went out and upset the left-hander, 1 up. He followed that up with a 3-and-2 victory over Jon Curran, who shot the equivalent of 6 under par in his third-round win over Kevin O'Connell on Thursday.

 

"I am pretty surprised," said Kim, who moved to the U.S. four years ago to better his golf game. "I've been able to accomplish many things [this week]. I play with great players . and I was able to learn something from every player. And it's great to win a match against a great player."

 

Just getting to the finals brings about several perks, one being an exemption to the U.S. Amateur next month at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Both players were unaware of this benefit until informed after their semifinal wins.

 

"Oh, that's going to be hard," said Chung, acting like a kid on Christmas morning.

 

Said Kim: "I was going to try and qualify in Valencia [at Tournament Players Club of Valencia] and I don't have to do that anymore. It is pretty cool."

 

Chung was also reminded that he receives an exemption from local qualifying for next year's U.S. Open, which happens to be at Pinehurst (N.C.) No. 2, where his parents have a membership (they also belong to Highland C.C. in Fayetteville).

 

"That would be really awesome if I made it," said Chung, his eyes widening with every word.

 

Don't put it past Chung that he couldn't qualify, either. He seems to have a mastery of the impossible, especially deficits. In his morning quarterfinal victory over Robert Riesen of Pinehurst, N.C., he rallied from a five-hole deficit over the last seven holes to post a 19-hole victory, making four birdies in a six-hole stretch.

 

Against Sung Kang of Korea in the semifinals, Chung won four consecutive holes from No. 11. The rally started when Kang missed a 3½-foot par putt to lose No. 11. Chung then birdied the 12th (8-footer) and stuck his tee shot at 13 to within four feet for another birdie and his first lead in the match. His up-and-down par won 14 when Kang chunked his greenside chip from the rough and made bogey.

 

Chung registered another up-and-down par at 15 from the greenside bunker and converted an 8-foot birdie at 16 for his fifth consecutive one-putt. Kang matched his birdie from five feet to stay in the match, but he couldn't hole a tricky downhill 14-footer for par at 17 to extend the match to 18.

 

"This guy is my idol," said a gallery member of Chung 's amazing short-game prowess. "He gives me hope."

 

Indeed, Chung 's performance has been remarkable considering every opponent out-drives him by at least 40-50 yards. He has yet to reach the 464-yard, uphill 17th hole in regulation this week, but it doesn't seem to matter. Not when you have confidence and a hot putter.

 

"If I just stick to my game and hit the good shots, I'll be right up on the green with them," said Chung.

 

Kim put on a short-game display against Curran, especially on the back nine when he got up and down for par at 12 and 13 to halve the holes. At 14, Kim faced a chip shot that was eerily similar to the one he had against Harman in the morning quarterfinal. He picked out his line and hit the shot with perfect pace. The ball rolled toward the flagstick, stopped momentarily and then dropped for a birdie, which gave him a 2-up lead. He won No. 15 with a par and closed out Curran, 3 and 2, with a par at 16.

 

"That happens in match play," said Curran, of Hopkinton, Mass., who had his best finish in a USGA competition. "I played good. I can't really do much else. [ Mark ] Silvers was getting up and down on me [in the second round] and I pulled that one out [in 19 holes]. And this one, I just fell short."

 

Curran was one of many 17-year-olds this week making his final appearance in the Junior. When asked if he was surprised to see a 14-year-old and 15-year-old playing in the final, he replied: "I don't know. I played with Kim today and he hits the ball just as far as I do. He chips and putts just as well as anybody. It [age] is almost becoming a non-factor."

 

That statement couldn't be more truthful. Consider that a 14- and 15-year-old competed in the final of this year's Women's Amateur Public Links and last year's Women's Amateur final four had three teenagers. And a 19-year-old was low-amateur at this year's U.S. Open (Spencer Levin).

 

Chung might be 14, but his mannerisms are anything but sophomoric. Last Friday, he played a practice round with local pro and club member Josh Levin (no relation to Spencer) and absorbed every bit of knowledge he could Levin showed him where to hit the ball and the little nuances of the greens.

 

It is obvious Chung is a fast learner. Remember, he's home-schooled, will be taking three college-level classes this fall at a local community college and has scored 99 percent on his Iowa Test, a standardized exam home-schooled students must take to show their academic aptitude.

 

Chung cuts the ball when the play calls for a cut and he uses every slope and hill to his advantage. And he's a master with the putter.

 

"I just try to pick out my line and hit it there," said Chung. "If it goes in good, but if it doesn't, I know I hit a good putt."

 

Confidence. That's a good thing for the U.S. Amateur and any other USGA competition.

 

Don't just don't tell him there's pressure. And even then, he might not believe you.

 

David Shefter is a USGA staff writer. E-mail him with comments or questions at dshefter@usga.org.