Kim Medals Thompson Qualifies at Girls Junior

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Kimberly Kim followed up her amazing 10-under 62 in round one with an even-par 72 on Tuesday, but it was enough to earn medalist honors at the U.S. Girls’ Junior.

She finished the two rounds of stroke play at 10-under-par 134, which was two better than Ha Na Jang, who shot a 5-under 67 on Tuesday.

Mina Harigae, who won this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur PubLinks, posted a 3-under 69 and is third at minus-7. Kristen Park carded a 2-under 70 and is fourth at 6-under-par 138.

Kim, the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, began on the 10th tee and birdied her first hole. She birdied the par-4 12th, but went on a run of poor golf.

She bogeyed 13 and 14, then double-bogeyed the par-3 15th. Kim atoned for the error with a birdie at 16 to make the turn at 1 over par.

Kim played better on her second nine with a pair of pars in her first two holes. She then traded birdies and bogeys the rest of the way to shoot a 34, but still get medalist honors.

Alexis Thompson, who at the age of 12 was the youngest player to ever compete in the U.S. Women’s Open, shot a 4-under 68 on Tuesday. She is tied for fifth place with Evan Jensen (72), Sally Watson (71) and Jennifer Johnson (71) at minus-4.

Tzu-Chi Lin (69), Michelle Shin (71) and Sue Kim (69) shared ninth place at 3-under-par 141.

Jenny Shin will not be successfully defending her title. She missed the match-play cut, which was 7-over-par 151, by two strokes.

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