Kaahanui and Kim Capture AJGA Ping Phoenix Junior Titles

When Trey Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz., wins on the American Junior Golf Association, it’s a good omen for Kyung Kim of Chandler, Ariz., and vice versa.
Kaahanui and Kim captured their respective divisions in the Ping Phoenix Junior at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, the second time in their AJGA careers that they wound up in the winner’s circle in the same event.
They also were the victors in the 2008 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz.
This time, Kaahanui posted a score of 67-73-70–210 to register a one-stroke victory in the Boys’ Division over Alex McMahon of Oro Valley, Ariz., who finished at 70-72-69–211.
“This week, the biggest thing was keeping my tee shots in play,” the 16-year-old Kaahanui said. “It helped me to not make big scores. Everything I hit was off the ground and my three birdies on Nos. 4, 8 and 9 (in the final round) really helped me keep my numbers low.”
In the Girls’ Division, Kim shot 76-66-72–214 and claimed a two-stroke victory over Jenny Hahn of Henderson, Nev., who wound up at 72-73-71–216.
It was the third title of her AJGA career.
“I birdied Nos. 7 and 10, which put me at two-under-par and really got my momentum going,” Kim said. “I was hitting greens and making it easy for me to par. Then, No. 16 was really crazy. I thought I was way off, but my ball just kept rolling and stopped three feet from the hole, and I was able to make par.”
Lilia Vu of Fountain Valley finished third in the Girls’ Division at 72-76-70–218, followed by Dana Finkelstein of Chandler, Ariz., at 76-73-73–222 and Anna Kim, also of Chandler, who finished at 72-74-77–223.
Sarah Baek of Encinitas totaled 79-73-73–225 and tied for sixth with Kendall Dusenberry of Newhall, who came in at 75-74-76–225. Devon Brown of Rancho Santa Fe shot 75-73-78–226 and tied for eighth with Christina Stringham of Pasadena, Texas, who wound up at 79-75-72–226.
Courtney Ferguson of Houston, Texas, shot 72-77-78–227 and tied for 10th with Daniela Ordonez of Colombia, who finished at 77-70-80–227, Paige Lee of Folsom, who wound up at 74-76-77–227, Aurora Kan of Boothwyn, Pa., who totaled 77-72-78–227, and Sun Gyoung of Vail, Ariz., who came in at 78-78-71–227.
In the Boys’ Division, Kevin Lee of Cerritos carded a score of 73-69-70–212 and tied for third with Nathan Weant of Hallsville, Texas, who finished at 68-69-75–212.
Kyle Jones of Taylor, Ariz., was fifth at 74-70-69–213, followed by Matt McClure of Tucson, Ariz., at 72-70-72–214, and J.J. Holen of Castaic shot 78-71-66–215 to tie for seventh with Zachary Wright of Phoenix, who wound up at 70-75-70–215.
Ki Taek Lee of La Quinta totaled 76-69-72–217 and tied for ninth with Brian Kyunguk Song of Beverly Hills, who finished at 74-72-71–217, George Cunningham of Litchfield Park, Ariz., who shot 71-77-69–217, and Michael Anderson of Phoenix, who came in at 72-72-73–217.