Notebook: Song Gets Rare Chance At WAPL Redemption

By David Shefter, USGA

Devens, Mass. – Jennifer Song has a rare chance at redemption. And if history has anything to say about it, she might walk away with the title on Saturday.

On Friday at Red Tail Golf Club, the 19-year-old Song became the sixth player to reach back-to-back finals in the 33-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, and none of the previous five lost two in a row.

Kelly Fuiks (1977-78) and Lori Castillo (1979-80) won the first four titles. Nancy Taylor won in 1982 and lost in ’83. Pearl Sinn reached three consecutive WAPL finals from 1987-89, losing the first and taking the next two. Michelle Wie won in 2003 and lost in ’04.

Jennifer Song is hungry for redemption after last year's loss in the WAPL final. (John Mummert/USGA)

Enter Song, who dropped a 2-and-1 decision last year at Erin Hills to Tiffany Joh. Coincidentally, Song’s opponent in Saturday’s 36-hole final, 17-year-old Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii, also lost to Joh in the 2006 WAPL final at Walking Stick Golf Course.

“I think it’s really great,” said Song, who is entering her sophomore year at the University of Southern California, where she was named the NCAA Freshman of the Year. “I love it. Just getting a chance is always an honor for me.”

Song has not won a tournament since winning the Asian-Pacific Junior Championship in 2006. But she’s been oh so close. Not only was she the runner-up at the 2008 WAPL, but she also finished second at the Pacific 10 Conference Championship, NCAA regionals and the NCAA Division I Championship, where she three-putted the 72nd hole to lose by a stroke to Purdue’s Maria Hernandez.

Her father told her at the NCAAs to play like a samurai warrior and this week as her caddie, he’s tossed out little reminders to keep Song confident.

“He’s always telling me during the round, ‘You’re a champion, you’re a great player,’ ”said Song. “Whenever he doesn’t say anything, I will try to make him say something.”

But Song feels she’s ready to break the long drought.

“I’m really, really hungry for it,” she said.

Staying Strong

Walking Red Tail is no easy task, especially with all the elevation changes. Both finalists have now played two stroke-play qualifying rounds and five matches in a span of five days. It can lead to a lot of tired legs, especially for the caddies.

“I feel bad for my dad because he carries my bag,” said Song. “I don’t feel tired when I’m playing, but once my game is over, my legs and body are about to collapse.”

Added Kim: “This isn’t like walking, it’s more like hiking.”

Kim has tried to keep loose by working out on the elliptical machine at the hotel.

“I am like in horrible shape,” she admitted. “People say I am working out, but I am just walking. It’s on like zero mph. The elliptical is 100 times easier than these hills.”

Song said she prepared for the endurance test by running in the gym and doing push-ups and crunches.

Weary Eyes

Even though Korea is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, Song said her mom, Jeeyeon, and other family members have been following her progress in the WAPL via the Internet. Her father, Museok, took a brief vacation from his academic work to be with his daughter at this event. Museok is a professor of fluid mechanics at Hongik University in Korea. He received his Ph.d at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, which is where Jennifer was born.

She has dual citizenship between the U.S. and Korea, but will have to decide on one by the time she turns 21.

“I love both countries,” she said.

Because she currently is an American citizen, Song is eligible for the USA Curtis Cup team. The 2010 Match will be held here in Massachusetts next June.

“Being a Curtis Cup member would be a great honor,” she said. “Because I was born here, I would like to be called an American citizen.”

Odds and Ends

Both Song and Kim have qualified for next month’s U.S. Women’s Open at Saucon Valley C.C…Song was the co-low amateur at the 2007 Women’s Open at Pine Needles and Kim was the youngest to make the cut at the 2006 Women’s Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club…On the difference between playing for the title in 2009 versus 2006, Kim said, “Now I am enjoying playing rather than stressing out.”…Kim’s caddie is Cyd Okino, who was a competitor at this week’s WAPL who failed to qualify for match play…Kim is hoping to join fellow Hawaiians Lori Castillo and Michelle Wie as WAPL champions.

David Shefter is a USGA Digital Media staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.