A 62 by K2

Who needs Michelle Wie when there is Kimberly Kim.

Kimberly Kim shot 10-under 62 Monday in the first round of stroke play at the U.S. Girls’ Junior to etch her name in the USGA record books once again.

Kim’s score tied Christina Kim for the lowest 18-hole score in a USGA girls’ or women’s championship. Last year, Kimberly Kim became the youngest winner in U.S. Women’s Amateur history at 14 years old.

Kimberly Kim had 10 birdies and no bogeys Monday at the par-72, 6,391-yard Tacoma Country & Golf Club in Lakewood, Wash.

“I was telling my dad that I’ve been hitting really bad and putting really bad, so don’t expect anything,” she said. “But today I played really good. I just played really solid the whole round. I don’t know what it was, but everything just seemed to work out.”

She shot 31 on each side, making four birdies on the front nine and six on the back nine, including four in her final five holes. Kim’s score was the lowest of the day by six shots. Three players, including Golfweek’s top-ranked junior Mina Harigae, finished at 4 under.

Christina Kim shot 62 in the second round of stroke play at the 2001 U.S. Girls’ Junior, at the time setting the record for lowest score in any USGA championship. Billy Horschel broke that with a 60 in the first round of last year’s U.S. Amateur.

This golf nut didn't even know about Horschel's round. Kimberly was last year's US amateur champ at age fourteen. She already has a very impressive record. Again you have to wonder if K2 is the future Korean-American superstar on the LPGA Tour rather than the much more heralded Michelle Wie. Kimberly can definitely play in addition to be much more low key than Michelle(She lists sleeping as a hobby!) and without the drama.(Questionable withdrawals, overbearing father, Firing a caddy through an agent)

A look at the Junior Girls leaderboard sees names like- Kristen Park, Stephanie Kim, Michelle Shin, Sue Kim, Stacey Kim. It won't just be the ROK supplying the LPGA with players named Kim in five or more years.

Linked to- Adam, Amboy Times, Bullwinkle,