GREENSBORO, N.C.– Lion Kim defeated David McDaniel 6 and 5 on Saturday night to win the 36-hole final at the rain-delayed U.S. Amateur Public Links.
The 21-year-old soon-to-be senior at Michigan came out of a 7-hour weather delay and won two straight holes, gradually built up his lead and claimed both a trophy and a traditional invitation into the field at next year’s Masters.
He clinched the victory in virtual darkness at the Bryan Park course. He sank an 8-foot putt for par on the par-4 No. 13 – roughly 30 minutes after sundown – to seal the victory. He says the only thing he saw was the hole.
Kim marked his win by pumping his fist – but his celebration was visible only when photographers popped their flashbulbs around the green.