Kim earns 2nd RMAC Golfer of the Year award
Leina Kim lines up a putt in one of the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves’ practice rounds in time for the upcoming Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season. (CSU-Pueblo Facebook Page)
Kim, an incoming junior at CSU-Pueblo, had one of her finest seasons since joining the ThunderWolves two years ago. She won three individual tournament crowns to earn a spot on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II regionals.
The Marianas Baptist Academy alum, who was also named the 2013-2014 RMAC preseason Golfer of the Year, added the RMAC award to her growing list of accolades in her young playing career.
Kim, according to the ThunderWolves’ official website, thus became the first player in RMAC and CSU-Pueblo—the reigning women’s division conference champions—history to earn All-America honors.
She posted season averages of 75.1 strokes and a .952 head-to-head winning percentage on her way to a second straight NCAA regional tournament.
Aside from topping three tournaments, Kim finished tied for second twice, and placed third, seventh, and eighth once. She also joined teammate and three-time All-RMAC awardee Julie Sanchez to win the preseason all-conference team honors.
Kim, in her freshman year as a ThunderWolf, earned her first RMAC Golfer of the Year award and the RMAC Freshman of the Year crown.
Kim, the youngest in Shirley and Young Kim’s three children, also qualified for the NCAA Division II national championships as an individual where she finished 28th overall with a 20-over-par score after four rounds.
CSU-Pueblo, who will be shooting for a third RMAC crown in four seasons, also topped the preseason coaches poll collecting 12 first place votes and 113 points overall.
The ThunderWolves will kick off the 22014-2015 season when they host the Wolfpack Invitational at the Pueblo Country Club on September 8 and 9.
Colorado Mesa (100), Western New Mexico (95), Metro State (88), Regis (78), Colorado Christian (75), UC-Colorado Springs (72), Adams State (62), Black Hills State (40), Chadron State (28), Fort Lewis (25), and South Dakota Mines (16) completed the 2014 RMAC Women’s Golf Preseason Coaches Poll. (Jon Perez)