Newsmakers: July 7, 2008

Professional Round-up

Tiger Woods and Anthony Kim have more than just a storied junior golf past in common. Sunday, Kim’s win at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club made him the first American under the age of 25 since Woods to win at least two PGA TOUR events in the same year.

The young golfer wasted no time making a name for himself, as he finished the event with a a five-under-par 65 and a two-stroke victory in the final round. With a 268 tournament total, Kim defeated runner-up Fredrik Jacobson and former AJGA member, Jim Furyk, who tied for third. Kim joins Woods, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott as the only players under 25 to claim multiple wins in the same season in the last 10 years.

Now No. 6 in the Ryder Cup standings, Kim has essentially secured a spot on the American team in September. His win put him at No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings and moved him closer to the top 10 in the world.

During the LPGA’s NW Arkansas Championship, Jane Park had an impressive second-place finish. Park lost by one stroke when Seon Hwa Lee birdied the final hole Sunday.

However, Park left her mark on the event equaling the lowest round of the LPGA this year, along with Angela Park, both AJGA alums. Angela Park tied for fourth at the event and shot 62 Saturday. Jane Park followed suit with a final-round 62 Sunday.

Amateur Round-up

Matt Savage, a former AJGA member from Louisville, Ky., took home a trophy this weekend, winning the 108th North and South Amateur Championship at the Pinehurst Resort. The Florida State senior sank a 4-foot birdie on the 40th hole to claim one of his best career finishes. Savage, who is ranked No. 45 in the Golfweek/Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings beat out the No. 3 ranked Jamie Lovemark. Lovemark is also a former AJGA member and plays collegiate golf for the University of Southern California. He has already claimed wins at the Western Amateur and NCAA Championship.