Golfer Kimberly Kim helped lead the DU Pioneers to its 7th consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship. Photo: Rich Clarkson & Associates
Freshman Kimberly Kim captured her first collegiate individual crown as the No. 15 University of Denver women’s golf team captured its seventh consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship at the par-72, 7,971-yard Schoolmaster course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trails at The Shoals on April 21.
The Pioneers shot a 2-under par 286 in the final round to finish the 2010 SBC Championships with a 1-over par 865. Head coach Sammie Chergo was named SBC coach of the year for the sixth time.
“I’m so happy with our team’s performance today, and to capture our seventh consecutive conference title is even better,” Chergo says. “It was a complete effort by each one of our players … We have a lot of momentum building around this team and I am really looking forward to another successful postseason run.”
The Pioneers earned the team title in dominating fashion as they bested the field of 11 teams by 34 strokes, claiming the top-three individual spots.
Kim won her first Sun Belt women’s golf title closing out the three-day tournament in impressive fashion by shooting 71 (1-under par) with a three-round total of 215 (1-under par). She fired a 3-under par in round one and followed that up with a 3-over par in round two. She was honored as the conference freshman of the year, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Junior Ellie Givens finished second overall with a third round score of even-par 72 to finish even-par 216 (70-74-72) for the tournament. Freshman Kelly Drack shot a 1-under par 71 to finish the tournament 1-over par 217 (71-75-71) and claim third place.
The top stroke leader in the conference, senior Stephanie Sherlock, used an even-par 72 in the final round to finish fifth overall with a three-round total of 3-over par 219 (72-75-72). Sophomore Sarah Faller rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers as she finished the tournament in seventh place with a 5-over par 221 (71-74-76).
Middle Tennessee finished second behind Denver while the University of Arkansas-Little Rock finished third.
The Pioneers now await selection to their ninth consecutive NCAA regional championships that will run May 6–8. The three regional sites are Ironwood Country Club in Greenville, N.C., Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif., and Otter Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, Ind. The selection announcement will be April 26 at 2 p.m. MT.