North Jersey Female Athlete of the Week is 'playing basically par golf right now'
Angelina Kim showed just how much she enjoyed the new early start to the high school golf season.
The sophomore helped Holy Angels win its first five matches, starting with a team-record round of 154 in the March 23 opener on Rockleigh Red Course.
The Angels followed up by breaking that record in match No. 2, as Kim carded a par 36 as part of a shoot-six, count-four score of 152.
“We’ve gotten five matches done already,” the Tenafly resident said, “whereas last year, maybe we only had one or two done [before spring break].”
Taking into account her first three outings, Kim’s aggregate score was 2-under.
“She’s definitely the No. 1 player in the county and right there as the best in the state as well,” Holy Angels coach Pat Dunne said. “She’s playing basically par golf right now.”
That is a product of Kim getting a jump on the competition, regardless of when the NJSIAA season has begun. She has been playing competitive golf since age 9, and during the past few winters, her father Michael has taken her on trips to golf in warmer climates.
“Last year, we went to Arizona for I think three weeks,” she said. “Two years ago, we went down to Florida for two months because of COVID.”
Kim’s family has a membership at Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, and she golfs as often as she can. That’s music to the Angels’ ears, as they enter the 2023 season as the defending Big North, Bergen County and North Jersey sectional champs.
This spring, in addition to helping her team repeat its titles, she’d like to improve upon her individual third-place outing at the Bergen tournament. Topping the team’s runner-up finish at the NJSIAA finals, however, might pose a conflict.
“States are same date as USGA Women’s Open qualifier,” Kim said, “and I’ll be participating in that. So, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to the state tournament.”
As much as she enjoys time with her team, it would be tough to say “no” to an event that has bearing on her biggest life goal.
“It’s always been my dream to become a professional golfer,” Kim said. “Obviously, that’s a really hard goal to reach. I would like to play D-I golf in college first, and then I’d like to pursue it afterwards, too.”
Holy Angels currently does have an alumna in a Division I program – Kelly Sim (Class of 2018) is in her final year of eligibility at Northwestern.
“Kelly Sim would be a tough one to match up to, because she won 3-of-4 individual state championships,” Dunne said. “Angelina, as a freshman, tied for third in the state tournament. She’s very, very good.”
Kim also mentioned Stanford freshman Megha Ganne as a fellow New Jerseyan she follows at the next level. The Holmdel native made headlines as a high school junior when she challenged for the lead at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open.
“I played with her sister [Sirina] once in one of the local New Jersey tournaments,” Kim said. “But Megha has played in a lot of LPGA events, so, she’s definitely an inspiration.”
Angelina Kim
Sport: Golf
School: Holy Angels
Class: Sophomore. Age: 16
Accomplishment: In the Angels’ first two matches, Kim shot a 3-under 33 and an even-par 36 to lead the team to wins over Westwood and Northern Highlands, with the latter victory featuring a school-record team score of 152.
Also nominated: Victoria Jolakian of Ramapo for golf.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen Record Female Athlete of the Week: Angelina Kim, Holy Angels
