Charleston, South Carolina, United States: Incoming Duke University freshman Bryan Kim became the second Blue Devil to win the US Junior Amateur Championship with his two-up victory over New Zealand's Joshua Bai in the weather-delayed 36-hole final at Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek Course.
Kim joins Jason Widener (1988) as Duke players to etch their name on the US Junior Amateur Trophy that includes the likes of Major champions Tiger Woods, Johnny Miller, David Duval, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler and Brian Harman, this year’s Open winner at Royal Liverpool who sent a congratulatory video message to the champion.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said 18-year-old Kim, who was playing in his third US Junior Amateur but had not made match play in his previous two.
He added: “Coming into this week, I hadn’t made a cut at a USGA event, but to not only make the cut but win all six of my matches, especially against all these great competitors, it just means the world.
“It’s a huge stepping-stone. Just to have my name right next to those guys, those big guys. It means if they can do it, I can do it. I’m right on track, so I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully I’ll get there one day.”
The championship match of the 75th edition of the Junior Amateur was extended a day due to multiple storms on Saturday, one of which delayed the start of the final by 3½ hours. Play was eventually halted for the day at 5:36 pm with Kim holding a one-up lead through 25 holes. It was the first time in 21 years that the US Junior Amateur finished a day later than scheduled.
After Kim completes his freshman season with the Blue Devils next spring, he’ll have a 76-minute drive from campus to Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst for the 2024 US Open, an exemption he receives as winner of the US Junior Amateur.
He’s also the lowest-seeded player (number 52 from stroke play) to win the title since Charlie Beljian (56) in 2002 at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Both Kim and 17-year-old Bai are exempt into next month’s US Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club in suburban Denver.
Bai was hoping for that trip to Pinehurst, where his fellow-Kiwi Michael Campbell captured the 2005 US Open 10 months before he was born. Danny Lee, a Korean-born player who represents New Zealand, also won the 2008 US Amateur at Pinehurst. Former world number one amateur and professional Lydia Ko remains the last Kiwi to claim a USGA title (2012 US Women’s Amateur).
Bai, who now heads to Spain to represent the Asia-Pacific in the Bonallack Trophy against Europe’s leading male amateurs, said: “I’ll just try and take the positives. I played really well. It really boosted my confidence going to tournaments in the future.
“It just helps me know that I can compete at the top level. Congratulations to Bryan. He’s a great player and even better person.”
More than an inch of rain fell on the property on Saturday, but the maintenance staff, led by superintendent Joey Franco, got the Ralston Creek Course in impeccable condition for the 8 am restart on Sunday.
Bai, competing in his second US Junior Amateur, wasted no time regaining the lead by winning the 26th and 27th holes, converting from eight feet for birdie on the former and registering a two-putt par on the latter, a 245-yard, par-three.
Two holes later, Kim tied the match by making a nine-foot birdie and then took a one-up lead on number 30 by getting up and down for par. Bai had a chance to tie the hole but lipped out a five-footer to complete a disappointing three-putt green.
But after the two tied the 31st hole, Bai squared the match with a brilliant 60-degree wedge pitch from rough short and right of the 284-yard, par-four 32nd green to two feet for a conceded birdie. Kim was unable to match the three after finding a greenside bunker off the tee.
Kim eventually took the lead for good by stuffing a 113-yard gap-wedge approach to seven feet on the 376-yard, par-four 35th hole. After Bai missed his long birdie try, Kim calmly converted his putt.
“I had a pretty good number,” said Kim of the shot. “I just really felt comfortable with those shots all week, those little knock-down wedges. I hit three good shots, and that’s what you need to do to make a birdie. Felt really good.”
At the 557-yard, par-five closing hole, Bai, needing a birdie to force extra holes, went for the green in two with a three-wood. But he pushed the 250-yard shot well right and sent his third shot over the green. He would eventually concede Kim’s birdie and the match.
“Bryan is not going to make anything less than a par,” said Bai of his decision on the final hole. “He could even make birdie, so I thought I just had to give it a shot, try and get on the green, have a putt for eagle or get it close [for a birdie chance].”
With the usual match play concessions, Kim posted a seven-under total of 137 (68-69) on the 7,184-yard, par-72 layout, while Bai registered four-under 140 (67-73).
Reflecting on the final, Bai said: “I’m glad we had that [weather] break in between to try and have that momentum switch. It did happen, but Bryan was just so solid. He kept the heat on, and it was tough to keep up.
“It was crazy out there. Almost every single hole one of us won the hole. I was just trying to stay focused.”