The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1014905
70 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2018 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? like hey, it's easy to remember, it's unique, it's different, and that's how I got the name." Kim figured to stand out at Michi- gan, coming out of high school in Lake Mary, Fla., ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation among prep golf- ers. He discovered, though, adjusting to college and life on his own wasn't as simple as an uphill two-foot putt. "On top of that, I put a lot of un- realistic expectations on myself my freshman year," he said. "A lot had to do with the fact that I had a great summer prior to coming to Michigan. Freshman year was a great learning curve for me." He still led the Wolverines in two events, and entered his sophomore year ready to leap forward. He did, and the Wolverines leapt right along. Led by the Division I PING All- America honorable mention per- former, Michigan made it all the way to the NCAA semifinals. "It would be equivalent to a Final Four in basketball," Kim noted. "We made some major upsets along the way." One of them involved beating USC in the quarterfinals, the No. 2 Tro- jans matched up against a Michigan squad on the cusp of the top 25. Kim took on Matt Giles, the No. 2-ranked collegiate player in the nation. But No. 2 wasn't No. 1 in that match. "On paper, we had no shot," Kim said. "It looked like I had no shot. That match sticks out to me. My match sealed the deal for us to get a victory over USC. That was a great moment. "All my teammates and coaches were at the 17th hole. There were a lot of people on that hole. It was a great moment for Michigan golf his- tory, for sure." Kim kept getting better, capping an All-Midwest Region junior season with a victory in the 2010 U.S. Am- ateur Public Links Championship. That earned him the invitation to the 2011 Masters, which spotlighted the senior season of the Michigan team captain. He wanted to give professional golf a shot while knowing he carried a Michigan degree in his back pocket. "You have to have a backup plan," he stressed. "My backup plan was making sure to get a college degree from a great university like Michi- gan, so when I came into the real world, I could get a job. Simple as that. I didn't want to be stuck in that hole." He wasn't, even while reaching to- ward the dream … "One thing I did realize when com- peting in The Masters, even when I missed the cut, I knew if I played my absolute best golf, I could com- pete with those guys," Kim mused. "Even though I missed the cut, I left there with a ton of confidence that if I worked hard and played my best golf, I could hang with those boys. "I thought I proved that, that week. The reality is, I didn't have my best stuff. I told myself, imagine if things were clicking." Unfortunately for Kim, parts of his body began clicking, and cracking. He'd hurt his right Achilles stepping into a pothole at Purdue's golf course in college. The post-college injuries then began piling up — left wrist, right thumb, back. Those setbacks, combined with the grind of golf far removed from the glamor, began taking their toll. "My love and passion for the game definitely went away," he said. "It wasn't the same as it was back in high school and college. Even though it's a job, the moment it feels like a job, the moment you wake up and dread going to practice or going to tournaments, it's a pretty clear sign that you should walk away from the game." He knew upon arrival for the PGA's Q [Qualifying] School in 2016, it was time to put away the clubs. "It should be an exciting time for a professional golfer," Kim noted. "You've got to be ready and hungry to go. I was the total opposite. "I was questioning: 'Why am I here? What am I doing?' The mo- ment I had those thoughts creep into my head, I knew it was time." These days, he'd just as soon hit the gym or read a book than take to the links to work on his game, al- though he's not averse to an occa- sional round. "I enjoy playing with good com- pany, good friends," he said. "But if you asked me, would you be will- ing to go out and play 18 holes by yourself … heck, no. I don't miss the grind, the practice and all the hard work that goes into playing golf at a high level. "I do not miss that. What I miss about golf is just being around good people and having fun on the golf course." ❏ The Lion Kim File M i c h i g a n Acco m p l i s h m e nt s: Twice earned Division I PING All- America honorable mention … Helped the Wolverines to the NCAA semifinals in 2009 … Posted a ca- reer scoring average of 73.26, third- best in Michigan history when he finished. Professional Accomplishments: Works as a senior sales representa- tive for software firm Riskalyze in Atlanta. Michigan Memory: "Who doesn't love going to a football game? Be- ing around Michigan fans that just truly love Michigan, that just bleed maize and blue. I just miss that so much," he said. "Matter of fact, I'll be back in Ann Arbor for the Nebraska game this year, for the first time in six years. I miss that. "I love the city of Ann Arbor. I love the people. I loved the fact that I was around diehard Michigan fans." Education: Earned a bachelor's de- gree in general studies with a con- centration in psychology in 2011. Family: "I have zero plans of ever getting married. Please write that. I like the freedom that I have." Kim currently serves as a senior sales rep- resentative for software firm Riskalyze in Atlanta. PHOTO COURTESY LION KIM