By Kelly Blair
Special to the News-Times
EL DORADO - Coming down the stretch of the fourth annual Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, eventual winner Hyemin Kim said she really didn’t start feeling confident about a possible victory until hole No. 16.
Kim, a native of South Korea, had a 3-shot lead coming into the final day of competition, but got off to a rough start and found herself tied with three or four other players after the first eight holes.
She said it wasn’t until she made a birdie on No. 9 that gave her a 2-stroke lead that she really started putting her eyes on the prize.
“I felt a little more confidence there,” Kim said. “Then on No. 16, even after I made a 2-putt, then I started feeling like, “Hey, I might win this tournament.’”
Kim had won a Symetra Tour tournament before - in California in 2017 - but said it’s always nice when you can play well over a 3-day event, and finish it off with a trophy. She was bolstered quite a bit on the first day when she made a hole-in-one.
“I really try hard not to think about the trophy at all,” Kim said. “And that’s hard. It’s very hard not too. Because it’s right there … So I try not to rush myself. Try to focus on just the shot that I am going to (next).”
Kim’s focus was more than good enough to win the Shootout, as she finished with a 5-under par score of 211, which was three strokes ahead of runner up Brittany Benventuto of Chicago. Ruixin Lie, Luren Kim and Dottie Ardina all finished tied for third with a 3-day total of 215.
With the victory, Kim was presented a check of $22,500, and a diamond bracelet from Murphy Pitard Jewelers, in addition to a nice trophy cup.
During the final ceremonies, Kim told the large crowd in attendance that it was nice to come to a “small town” like El Dorado, and play in front of such enthusiasic fans. She added it was much nicer than playing in large metropolitian areas where things are not as intimate, and also praised the quality and toughness of Mystic Creek golf course.
The Shootout will continue to be played in El Dorado for at least the next two years, and in addition to paying out $150,000 to the competitors of the event, they were also able to donate $25,000 to the Campfire Girls of El Dorado.
Unlike the previous three winners of the El Dorado Shootout, Kim said the victory really doesn’t put her much closer to advancing to the LPGA tour, but said she is still encouraged by the progress she is making.
“Be honest I haven’t tracked since two weeks ago, and I think I was about 90th,” Kim said. “I think I am still far away but I’m getting closer to a second stage exception, so I am excited about it.”